Woman receives suspended jail term at Ballymena court for possession of heroin and spate of shoplifting
A woman formerly with a Ballymena address but now living in Scotland has received a suspended jail term for possession of heroin and a spate of shoplifting.
Tammy Jamison (36) was caught with heroin on, according to the charge sheet, December 30 last year.
In November 2022 she stole bedding worth £49 from B&M Bargains.
In January 2023 she took £265 worth of items from Sports Direct.
Also that month she took a £110 hoodie from a Tommy Hilfiger shop in Ballymena and was in possession of cannabis.
In February 2023 she stole wine worth £221 from Sainsbury’s.
In April in 2023 she took clothing worth £63 from Primark in Ballymena and also food from Poundland in the Tower Centre in the town.
She had been barred from Poundland but also in April 2023 she stole tin foil worth £1.
The defendant appeared at Ballymena Magistrates' Court via video link from prison.
A defence barrister said in all his years in law he had "never read a more tragic background".
He said the heroin offence happened when the defendant "fell off the wagon" but "she tells me she is doing well".
Deputy District Judge Alan White said "given the lack of any significant previous record" and the fact that most of the offences happened three years ago he was handing down a six months prison term, suspended for three years.