Heroin addict stole M&S meat

A heroin-addicted thief stole joints of beef and other packets of meat from the city’s Marks and Spencer store.

Emily Thompson walked into the branch in St George’s Street, Canterbury on two occasions and swiped the items from the shelves and left the store without paying.

She first went into the shop in Whitefriars in November last year and took four packets of meat.

Then, along with another unknown man returned to the store on January 16 this year and stole nine joints of beef valued at £90.

The 41-year-old was later identified by CCTV footage and when officers, who knew she was wanted in relation to the thefts, spotted her at a bus stop in Sturry Road, arrested her. As police were putting her in handcuffs, they saw her pass something to a man. When officers acquired the item, they discovered it contained heroin. Thompson, of Artillery Gardens, Canterbury, was charged with two counts of shoplifting and possession of heroin and admitted the offences when she appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on April 13.

District Judge Justin Barron heard Thompson had been out of trouble for years until she committed these offences. She was found with 0.18g of heroin.

The judge was also told Thompson has had a problem with drugs and had been using heroin for 15 years and despite it still being an issue, had not offended for the past eight years, but wanted help to come off the drugs. He placed Thompson on a community order for 12 months, drug rehabilitation course for six months, 15 rehabilitation sessions and pay £85 costs.