A two-month pregnant Bournemouth woman has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after stealing baby items and meat from high street shops.
Helen Cooper, 35, of Turbary Park Avenue, Bournemouth, an ex-heroin user who has been seeking methadone treatment for the last 12 months, pleaded guilty to 10 charges of theft and going equipped to steal.
Bournemouth Magistrate’s Court heard that Cooper had lost her benefits for seven weeks due to a mix up and a crisis loan was not made available to her.
Cooper had stolen baby monitors, a breast pump, a leg of lamb and cosmetics from shops such as Boots, Superdrug, Marks and Spencer and the Co-op, to the approximate value of £2000, using a foil-lined bag.
During one theft on November 18 last year Cooper stole £950 worth of cosmetics from Superdrug in Winton.
Boots made an application for compensation to the value of £304.29, for two baby monitors and a breast pump, but this has been denied.
Speaking for the defence, Cooper’s solicitor said: “Ms Cooper understands nothing can be said to stop her from going to prison but would like to serve her sentence as quickly as possible to prepare for the birth of her child.”
District Judge House said: “It’s sad to see you here again. I have taken into account that you are pregnant and would therefore like you to be out before the birth. You will serve 28 days for each charge against you, but if you behave you will be out in half that time.”
