Prison for serial thief

A SERIAL shoplifter who targeted Co-op stores around Ipswich is today behind bars.

Shampoo, lager, toiletries and washing powder were among the goods stolen by Esther Snell during a series of thefts from the supermarket chain.

Snell, 28, of Stoke Park Drive, admitted four charges of theft from shops at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court yesterday.

She also asked for a further four charges to be taken into consideration when sentencing her.

Magistrates heard how Snell had targeted Co-op stores across Ipswich since April this year, and had also stolen from a Sainsbury's store on one occasion.

On April 15, she stole five boxes of washing powder and two packs of beer, worth £39.95 from the Co-op in Clapgate Lane.

On June 4 she stole numerous bottles of shampoo, worth £68.40, from the Co-op in Queen's Way.

On June 24 she stole various items from the Co-op store in Clapgate Lane, and on July 28 she took various packages of meat costing around £120 from Sainsburys in Felixstowe Road.

The further four offences to be considered included thefts from two different Co-op stores in May, firstly stealing lager and deodorant from the Austin Street store, and then stealing various items from the Hines Road store.

On June 6 she stole several bottles of shampoo, worth £11.37, from another Co-op store, and on July 28 she took a newspaper and various other items, worth a total of £6.58, from the Austin Street store.

The court heard that by committing these crimes Snell was also guilty of breaching two conditional discharges given to her for a similar offence of shoplifting and for a breach of a community rehabilitation order.

Sentencing her to four weeks in prison for each of the offences, to run concurrently, chairman of the bench John Woolley said: "Because of your persistent offending and your failure to respond to previous non-custodial sentences, it is the only option."