A PROLIFIC shoplifter who stole from a host of Colchester supermarkets before being arrested during the Christmas shopping rush is now at "last chance saloon".
Vicki Millard, of Jessell Drive, Loughton, was charged with five counts of theft from shops including Marks and Spencer, Asda, and River Island.
Two days before Christmas, Millard was arrested in Colchester’s Lion Walk shopping centre after stealing a £75 jacket from River Island.
Millard, who appeared remotely from HMP Peterborough, was sentenced to a two-year community order by magistrates in Colchester on Monday morning.
The court heard how Millard, 37, stole £430 worth of items from Asda, Marks and Spencer, and River Island on five occasions in November and December last year.
Vishnuka Pavanerathan, prosecuting, told the court: “On Friday, December 22 the defendant was detained by officers and had a jacket from River Island with the tag still on it.
“Further to that, the defendant was in possession of jeans which tags on.”
Raphael Pigott, mitigating, said Millard had stolen the items to fuel her drug addiction.
He said: “The thefts from Asda and River Island are motivated by her Class A drug addiction.
“Her first belated convictions from addiction related offences are from May last year.
“She has been in two abusive relationships and suffers from anxiety, depression, and PTSD; she turned to drugs and fell into using them as a result of her domestic violence history and her mental health problems have stemmed from that.”
Chair of the bench, Steve Race, decided against jailing Millard.
He said: “The first thing to say is that you are receiving the same community order you were sentenced to last time [for a previous offence].
“The choice you have got is, what do you do with your future, because this is your third community order.
“We are going to make you subject to a 24-month community order consisting of 30 rehab activity requirement days.”
Millard must also complete 50 hours of unpaid work, repay £430 to the businesses she stole from, and pay a £114 victim surcharge.
Mr Race said: “You’re basically at last chance saloon now.
“Your future is in your hands – good luck.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel