Middle-aged mothers avoid jail after stealing thousands of pounds worth of clothes from Zara - despite having previous shoplifting convictions
Two middle-aged mothers have been spared jail despite stealing thousands of pounds worth of clothes from Zara and having previous shoplifting convictions.
Joanna Braker, aged 46, and Tracey Lamb, 47, targeted the shop at Touchwood in Solihull on numerous occasions.
Both, from Leicestershire, have previous convictions for shoplifting as a judge expressed frustration the courts have 'tried everything' with them in the past but 'nothing had stopped' them from stealing.
Birmingham Crown Court heard mother-of-four Braker fell on hard times after losing her accommodation and ending up in an 'unsatisfactory' hotel.
While mother-of-two Lamb blamed the end of her relationship and diagnosis of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Recorder Luke Blackburn, passing sentence on May 27, concluded he would 'try something else' instead of immediate imprisonment due to their ages, family circumstances and gaps in their offending.
He handed both of them 30 weeks suspended for 21 months including 20 days of rehabiliation activity.
Braker, of Leicester pleaded guilty to two theft offences and one attempted theft while Lamb, of Bushby, admitted three charges of theft and one count of attempted theft.
Accomplice Rachel Edwards, aged 54 and also from Leicester, had received a 26-week sentence suspended for 12 months for similar offences at an earlier court hearing.
Between them the three woman stole nearly £5,000 worth of clothes from Zara.
They took a £1,992,20 haul on June 20 last year but were all caught in the shop when they tried to return an hour later trying to swipe more clothes worth £763.76.
Edwards was found in the fitting room with an empty pushchair which she had used as a distraction.
Prosecutor Cally Keenan stated shop staff were aware of them from previous incidents caught on CCTV.
All three had taken £558.79 of items on May 30 while Lamb and Edwards had walked off with a £1,552.52 load on June 7.
Exdol Mitchell, defending Braker, said: 'She bitterly regrets having been involved in this situation.
'She has turned her life around. She's in full-time employment. She doesn't earn a substantial wage.
'She works in a care home assisting the residents, primarily as a cleaner, doing their shopping and various other chores.
Michael Aspinall, for Lamb, told the court she agreed to act as a 'lookout' for £100 after falling on hard times following the end of her relationship.
The barrister also confirmed she had been diagnosed with ADHD, but had since tried to turn over a new leaf by starting up her own reflexology business.
Mr Aspinall stated Lamb was 'ashamed' and added: 'She hasn't had the courage to tell her daughter she might not be coming back today.
'Her business also would fail. She has many clients.
'She has been developing the business over social media and it has been going from strength to strength.'
Recorder Blackburn told the pair: 'You both saw the shops you stole from as an easy target. Easy money. Dishonest money. But that didn't bother you much.
'You both have children and I have heard quite a bit about your children.
'What it also means is I know your children are old enough to understand their mothers are thieves. You should consider the significance of that.'
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