Woman jailed for stealing £62.30 worth of clothes from Primark in Craigavon
A woman, who stole clothes from Primark in Craigavon, is to appeal a three months jail term.
The 38-year-old had previously been found guilty to a single charge of stealing clothing from the store on September 26 last year.
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Jenna Mary Clarke, from Sydney Street West, Belfast, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court.
Clarke’s barrister, Mr Damien Halleron, said a warrant had been executed in relation to his client as she hadn’t attended court to answer the charge.
"There were difficulties with Probation as well,” he explained, adding that Clarke was in court to be sentenced.
Mr Halleron explained his client had been “living house to house” and had become addicted to drugs.
"This lady had full-time employment well into her early 20s. She then unfortunately got into the grip of illicit drugs. She was stealing to fund that habit,” he said.
The barrister explained that the defendant has managed to “regularise” her position and has got stable accommodation and is looking for employment.
She’s gone to her GP and taken steps to address her drug addiction,” he added.
Regarding the deferral of her case from December last year, which stipulated no offending, Mr Halleron said his understanding was that she hadn’t offended since.
However District Judge Michael Ranaghan pointed to a note in her record from February this year which breached the deferral stipulations.
"She didn’t attend court either,” he said. “Deferrals are based on trust. This lady has breached it by further offending.”
He sentenced Clarke to three months in jail plus £15 offender levy. She was later released on her own bail of £300 to appeal the sentence.