Magistrate gives festive drinking warning to shoplifter

Thursday 17 November 2022

A female shoplifter who stole wine and vodka from five different stores and smashed a window with a pot plant has been spared prison and instead handed a strong festive warning.

Sentencing Sharon Louise Evans to a nine-month binding over order this week, Magistrate Bridget Shaw told the 50-year-old: "Don't drink alcohol, even at Christmas."

The Magistrate's Court heard that between June and October this year, Evans stole vodka from Marks & Spencer, Co-op Locale, Iceland in Bath Street and the Stop Shop newsagents in Roseville Street.

She also stole wine from Stop Shop and from the Alliance store in Sand Street.

Pictured: The case was heard in the Magistrate's Court.

St. Helier Centenier Peter Garrett added that Evans had smashed a kitchen window at a property by throwing a pot plant at it.

She admitted the offences of theft and malicious damage.

Advocate Francesca Pinel, defending, said Evans had not had an alcoholic drink "for some time now" and had been doing better since finding accommodation.

Advocate Pinel requested a binding-over order and told the court: "If she is sent to prison, there's a risk that we end up in the same cycle."

The Magistrate, Bridget Shaw, told Evans: "In many ways we have been here before.

"You have breached so many restraining orders, binding-over orders, probation orders and community service orders that – unless you change your behaviour – the only option is custody."

Instead, she imposed a binding-over order and instructed Evans to pay £214.74 for the broken window and the bottles of alcohol that were not recovered.

She had already been barred from premises selling alcohol, and Mrs Shaw told her: "Don't drink alcohol, even at Christmas, whatever anyone else is doing.

"You need to see yourself as a non-drinker, because if you start you are not good at stopping. I hope we don't see you again."