Woman on drugs stole from store

She was 44-year-old Barbara Elizabeth Boyd, of Court Yard, Moyallen Lodge, Gilford.

She was fined 100 for possession of cannabis on August 21 last year and sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 18 months, for theft.

The court heard that Boyd left Dunnes Stores in Portadown’s High Street Mall without paying for goods valued at 192.98.

When she was searched a lump of a brown substance, wrapped in cellophane, was found on her.

A solicitor for Boyd said that on the day in question she had purchased some drugs. She had taken drink and drugs and in her stupor had put these items in her trolley.

The solicitor added that she suffered shame and embarrassment about the incident and had not touched alcohol or drugs since then.

She has admitted she is an alcoholic and was seeking help for her addictions. She saw what happened as a wake-up call.

The solicitor said alcohol played a big part in her previous offences and she did not want to go back to alcohol or drugs again.

The District Judge said the two matters were inextricably linked so that someone who is on benefits and has a drugs problem had to resort to shoplifting to satisfy their habit.