Repeat shoplifter sent to jail after being caught with 28 chocolate bars

A prolific shoplifter caught with 28 bars of stolen chocolate, three packets of chicken, and some Dairylea cheese has been jailed.

Amy Kelly had stolen the products from Sainsbury’s just moments before she was arrested by police in Darlington town centre on Tuesday (September 26).

Officers searched her bags and found the items, worth £58 in total.

The 34-year-old had also stolen two Lenor Scent Boosters and cleaning products from Savers, on Skinnergate, worth £44.

She was charged with three counts of theft from a shop and remanded in custody to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Kelly, of Tom Raine Court, in Darlington, pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for 14 weeks.

Inspector Matt Plumb, from Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “Amy Kelly is a well-known thief who continues to offend despite repeated help and support offered to her by our Offender Management Unit and other agencies to change her behaviour.

“We will not tolerate people like her who commit these types of offences. Retail crime is far from being a victimless crime; it hurts businesses who must grapple with higher costs and lost stock, resulting in an increase in prices for us all.   

“As a force, we are continuing to tackle this type of criminality by carrying out proactive patrols, pursuing offenders and working with our partners and local businesses to try and prevent offenders from committing these offences in the first place.”