Shoplifter’s protest at suspended sentence

A recovering drug user who was spared prison after being caught shoplifting in Blidworth told magistrates she thought her sentence was a ‘bit harsh.’

Danielle Watson, 32, of Ainsdale Crescent, Nottingham, admitted stealing around £85 of razor blades from the Co-Op store on Mansfield Road on September 2 and 8.

She was captured on CCTV, and when interviewed, admitted selling the goods so she could buy class A drugs.

Mansfield magistrates sentenced her to 12 weeks for the thefts, suspended for 12 months, and ordered her to pay a victim surcharge of £80, costs of £85 and compensation of £85.52.

Watson told the court: “I find it a bit of a harsh sentence myself.”

Magistrates heard the offences were committed before Watson was sentenced to ten weeks in prison for similar offences in October.

A probation report said that since her release Watson had responded well to a drugs rehabilitation programme.

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