Woman who stole a Christmas tree from Asda in Antrim left in a BMW X1

Sabrina Mary McDonagh (34), of Glendale Road in Derry/Londonderry, took the Tree on November 23 last year.

A prosecutor said the Christmas tree was recovered and was fit for re-sale. The defendant was sentenced at Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, on Tuesday.

She was apprehended at a nearby McDonald's Restaurant in Antrim on November 23. A defence solicitor said the defendant is a single mother of four children.

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District Judge Nigel Broderick said the defendant had a record of 13 previous convictions including eight for theft and one for handling stolen goods.

He asked: "What would happen if she went to prison? Does she think she is immune from prison and I will not send her to prison?"

The judge told the defendant: "I don't say these things lightly. Do you understand that if you keep going into shops and stealing things you will end up going to prison?"

The defendant was given a four months jail term, suspended for 18 months.