Shoplifter blames stress

A Marlborough woman who stole groceries once or twice a week for two months says she was struggling to support her grandchildren.

Ann Shirley Wilson, 49, was caught on camera stealing groceries by going through the selfservice checkout at Pak ‘n Save in Blenheim without paying for everything.

A police summary said she put some items in the bag without scanning them, and scanned others under a different product description so she could pay less for them. The items taken on each trip varied in value from $7.49 to $50.19.

Wilson was approached by police on her last attempt on July 12, and arrested for paying $45.23 less than she was supposed to.

Police asked her about 12 other thefts, saying she was caught on CCTV camera.

Wilson said she was struggling financially as she had a lot of time off work.

‘‘I probably didn’t need the beer, but I thought, ‘surely I’m allowed to have something in the weekends’,’’ Wilson said.

‘‘I virtually have to pay for everything out of my wage. The money left goes on the grandchildren - clothing and school.’’

Pak ‘n Save sought $336.90 in reparation.

The Havelock woman admitted 12 counts of shoplifting at the Blenheim District Court in July. She reappeared for sentencing on Monday. Wilson’s partner was jointly charged, but the charges were withdrawn as he was suffering from dementia.

Her lawyer Rennie Gould said the Wilson was struggling to cope with the ‘‘daily stresses’’ of caring for her sick father, who had since died, her husband and her three grandchildren under the age of 10, who lived with her.

Wilson brought a cheque for $305 to court, and would pay the remaining $31.90 as soon as possible, Gould said.

She had also completed four hours’ voluntary community work since she was charged.

Gould applied for a discharge without conviction, which police did not oppose.

Judge Jan Kelly said the shoplifting was serious because it was premeditated, but involved groceries of relatively low value.

‘‘Given your guilty pleas and your offer to pay reparation, and the community work, I’m satisfied the consequences of a conviction would outweigh the gravity of the crime.’’

Judge Kelly discharged Wilson without a conviction, but ordered her to repay the total amount by the end of the week.