Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Serial thief warned of five-year jail term
A SERIAL thief who admitted shoplifting from a series of premises and a solicitors’ office was told by a sheriff to “stop stealing” or she could go to jail for five years.
Cindy Clunie, 39, admitted breaching a community payback order imposed for shoplifting charges during a previous appearance at Dundee Sheriff Court.
She admitted to a total of five charges, all of which took place in the past 12 months.
The court heard Clunie had been stealing in order to pay for her drug habit.
Sheriff Alastair Brown warned Clunie, of Ballantrae Road in Douglas, that if she did not stop stealing she would come back before him and would be sent to prison.
He pointed out that the maximum sentence he could impose for her offences was five years.
In the meantime the sheriff revoked her community payback order and imposed a fourmonth restriction of liberty order.
Clunie had previously admitted that on April 22, at Boots in High Street, she stole four boxes of perfume, while on bail.
Clunie further admitted that on the same date, at Marks & Spencer in Murraygate, she stole food.
On September 22 at Asda, Milton of Craigie, Clunie stole clothing and coffee while on bail.
She further admitted that on May 12, at Campbell Boath Solicitors, Stirling Street, she stole a mobile telephone and charger.
And on July 29, at Lidl in Dura Street, she admitted to having stolen food.
Sheriff Brown said to Clunie: “It’s hard to make ends meet, isn’t it?” She replied: “Yes.” The sheriff continued: “Partly because you are on drugs?” “Yes,” the accused replied. Sheriff Brown asked: “So you’re stealing to get money to buy food and drugs?”
The sheriff added: “If you breach the restriction of liberty order you will be brought back to this court and I will send you to jail.”