70 crimes, but perfume theft was a ‘blip’
A SERIAL shoplifter who has committed more than 70 crimes avoided a fine – after magistrates decided her latest theft was a “blip”.
Natasha Dodds walked into TJ Hughes and helped herself to some Juicy Corture perfume as a “gift” to her daughter.
North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard she was only caught after returning to the shop the next day and the security team has since watched her in action on CCTV.
Prosecutor Bethany Jendrzejewski said Dodds admitted the crime to police straight away.
“In interview, she was asked by police if she wanted to add anything else, and she said ‘ sorry’,” added the prosecutor.
The court heard Dodds has 71 offences on her record, which included 35 thefts.
Dodds, of Cherry Tree View, Byker, was handed a conditional discharge by magistrates.
It means she will escape any punishment unless she offends again in the next six months.
The court heard unemployed Dodds has committed so many offences that she owes £2,500 in fines and costs.
And because the bill is so high, officials said it could take at least a decade for her to pay it off from her benefits.
Dodds, 54, who receives Universal Credit, must also pay £25 for the perfume, which was never recovered after she stole it on October 3.
In mitigation, Dodds’s solicitor said the offence was a “blip” and she had largely remained out of trouble in 2018.
Sentencing her, chairman of the bench Gordon Wanless warned her: “You can’t go stealing items from shops - it isn’t an acceptable action.
“We are going to assume this was a blip.”