A SHOPLIFTER has been sentenced for stealing nearly £300 worth of items from Barrow shops.

Rebecca Woodend, of Kent Street, Barrow, was sentenced at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court on October 9 after previously admitting four counts of theft from a shop at an earlier hearing.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said the 30-year-old began her offending on June 6 this year – one day after she was prosecuted in court for another theft matter.

The court heard Woodend entered the B&M store at Cornerhouse Park on Hindpool Road at 8:15pm where she stole cosmetic items valued at £70.

Mr Dacre told the court the defendant stepped over the till and made off without payment.

Woodend was caught by a member of staff at the same B&M store six days later at 6:40pm removing security tags from electrical items.

She was intercepted with £165 worth of items before managing to leave, the court heard.

The prosecution told the court Woodend’s offending did not stop there.

On June 29, she was caught stealing a multi pack of fizzy drinks from Home Bargains in Barrow valued at £13.96.

Mr Dacre said Woodend was then seen on CCTV bagging four scented candles and cleaning fluid valued at £46.91 from the same store just one day later.

The court heard a total of £295.87 was stolen.

Woodend, who chose not to be legally represented, offered no legal submissions to magistrates.

She was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £70 in compensation to B&M and £60.57 in compensation to Home Bargains.

Chair of the bench Charles Crewdson told Woodend: “You are in a deep hole and you’ve got to get out of it.”