A sweet-toothed thief has been banned from her favoured target store for six months.
Ann Simpson, 35, pinched almost £300 of goodies from Heron Foods’ outlet in Frederick Street, South Shields, in raids a day apart.
Simpson, of Oxford Street, Chichester, also stole from the branch on a third day, swiping an unknown amount of stash.
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But she was identified from CCTV and arrested for crimes committed on Friday, March 19 and the following two days, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.
They were the latest of Simpson’s staggering 191 criminal offences – 96 of which are thefts – committed over 23 years.
In an unusual legal move, magistrates deferred passing sentence for six months, giving Simpson a chance to turn her life of crime around.
But in doing so, they ordered her to stay away from Heron Foods – and gave her five other conditions.
Prosecutor Leanne Duffy said: “On March 19, she took £28 of chocolate, and on March 20, £250 of chocolate. None was recovered.
“She also took chocolate on March 21 to an unknown amount, which was also not recovered.”
Kevin Smallcombe, defending, said Simpson had endured a troubled childhood and adult life which had led to her committing crimes.
And he claimed she had been manipulated by an associate during her latest illegal spree – and that the chocolate was not for her.
Mr Smallcombe added: “There is another individual who shares in this. She has had substance issues.
“She was living hand-to-mouth. She was not going to be eating all this chocolate, it’s gone on essentials.”
Simpson pleaded guilty to three counts of shop theft.
Deferring sentence, magistrates outlined her other conditions of compliance.
She must abide by the terms of a post-prison sentence licence, continue to engage with a South Tyneside support service and not use prohibited substances.
And she must continue to use a prescribed medication, and not commit any further criminal offences.
Simpson’s deferred sentence ends on Tuesday, March 1, when she will be back before the same court.
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