A WOMAN has been caught stealing more than £100 worth of steak from a supermarket while waiting for her benefits to go through.
Leasha Corrina Gilham, of Broad Street, pleaded guilty at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday (September 18) to stealing £126.20 worth of meat from the Co-operative store in Worcester.
Jackie Rogers, prosecuting, told the court the 31-year-old went into the shop at 3pm on August 1, with a shopping bag and put the steak into the bag.
Defence Solicitor, Adrian Harling, said: “She fully admitted to the offence in the police station. It was a unsophisticated attempt at shop lifting.
“This young lady lives on her own with a 13-year-old, prior to this she lived with her mother and that was the address all her correspondence went to. She fell out with her mother and felt she had to leave that address, she sought alternative accommodation, however, because of the argument her mother sent all of her mail back as not at this address. That meant the benefits cheques were not coming through.
“She went to notify the authority ad she changed her address, but they had to reissue her benefit payment and it took four weeks to go through.”
Chair of the best, John Taylor, gave Gilham a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered her to pay a £15 victim surcharge, £150 court charge, £85 in prosecution costs and £126.20 in compensation to the Co-operative store.
