Stealing spree began shortly after woman’s release from prison

A woman who went on a stealing spree to feed a drug habit has been handed a three-month prison sentence.

Julie Jeffrey, of Romans Close, in St Ives, appeared before Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Friday after she breached the terms of her release from prison for a previous crime.

Paul Brown, prosecuting, said that Jeffrey stole hundreds of pounds worth of food, make-up and underwear.

In July, Jeffrey, 41, twice took make-up from Boots, in St Neots, along with underwear from Peacocks and food from Iceland, in Huntingdon.

Mr Brown added that Jeffrey previously stole “razors worth £250 belonging to Waitrose in St Neots”.

District judge Shlomo Kreiman was told that the offending began as soon as Jeffrey was released from prison on July 4.

In mitigation, David Potter explained that Jeffrey was “met by her friend who also has a drug problem and began offending to purchase drugs. This started immediately on July 4 when she was released.”

Jeffrey was given a six-month sentence but was told that she would only spend half of that in prison. Following her release Jeffrey will be monitored by the probation service.

Judge Kreiman added: “If you want to offend you are going to carry on offending it doesn’t matter what orders the court makes you will carry on doing so.”

The judge ruled there would be no compensation to the shops involved as Jeffrey has no means of paying for the items that had been taken.