Drug addict Stourport mum's saucy raid at Kidderminster Tesco

In a single shoplifting spree at M&S in Worcester's High Street, Kalie Blaymires stole £913 worth of cosmetics, also hitting Wilko and Next stores on the same day.

The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to 14 thefts in Worcester, Droitwich and Kidderminster when she appeared over prison videolink at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, at times crying as she held her head in her hands in the videolink booth at HMP Eastwood Park.

Blaymires stole £913 of cosmetics from M&S

In total Blaymires, previously of Windmill Close, Stourport, and a female accomplice stole £2,190 worth of goods.

All Blaymires's thefts were committed in breach of a conditional discharge for similar offences committed in Stourport and imposed on July 13 this year.

She was also subject to post-sentence supervision at the time and, according to a probation officer at court, has not been engaging with her offender manager.

The officer added: "There isn't anything we can do for her at this time."

In Kidderminster she stole £103 of toys from Tesco in the town's Castle Road and £100.25 of plug-in oils and other household cleaning products worth £100.25 from B&M on August 17 this year. The prolific thief returned to the same Tesco on August 31, stealing £103 worth of toys and health and beauty products which included Durex condoms and lubricant.

Blaymires stole £95.75 of air fresheners from Wilko

Meanwhile in Worcester, she stole an unknown number of vitamins from Superdrug just off the High Street between August 5 and August 26 this year.

She also stole £95.75 of air fresheners and refills from Wilko, £28 of clothing and fragrances from Next and and £913 of cosmetics from M&S, all three thefts taking place on October 27 this year.

In Droitwich, she stole £247 of goods from Wilkinsons, £138.57 from Boots, £119.90 from WH Smith, £34 from Peacocks and £37 from Savers, all offences committed on September 8 this year.

She returned to Tesco on November 2, stealing £116.85 of toys, coming back once again on November 4 to steal £153.99 worth of toys.

Blaymires stole £28 worth of clothing and fragrance from Next

Ralph Robyns-Landricombe, prosecuting, said during the Worcester thefts staff at M&S were using CityNet, the area's crime reduction partnership, and CCTV camera operators were asked to watch the front and back entrance of the store.

He added: "Two females including this defendant were bagging up large quantities of cosmetic items in the bags they were both carrying."

They left the store via the back entrance onto The Shambles without paying, heading towards Reindeer Court but were detained by security officers and returned to M&S.

Items stolen from other city stores were also identified during a search of the defendants and the goods were able to be returned in a condition fit for resale.

Vitamins to a value unknown were stolen from Superdrug

None of the items were recovered from the Kidderminster thefts. After the Droitwich thefts, Blaymires was found in Vines Park and a number of the stolen items were recovered by officers.

"They were taken to Droitwich police station and voluntarily interviewed, admitting thefts from several stores," Mr Robyns-Landricombe said.

Blaymires has 20 previous convictions and was sentenced to 17 weeks in prison on February 20 for shop thefts.

Glenn Cook, for Blaymires, said his client's guilty plea was entered at the first available opportunity and said magistrates could not be criticised if they gave her a prison sentence.

He asked that the 12 days she had spent on remand be taken into account.

The reason behind the thefts, he said, was that her methadone prescription, which is used to wean heroin addicts off the drug, was reduced from 70ml to 60ml in error.

Read more:

• Plan for Sainsbury's Local and flats at old fire station
• Suspected drink driver waved at police to pass in Kidderminster

"For a person who has struggled with a drug addiction for 11 years, that was a lot," he said. "She wasn't able to sustain herself and was using drugs to top up her long-standing class A drug addiction."

Magistrates sentenced her to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered her to complete a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and pay £250 compensation to the shops.

This figure was half of the total value of the goods that were not recovered. The other half of the compensation will be paid by her co-defendant.

Blaymires was also asked to pay a contribution to costs of £50 and a victim surcharge of £156.