A SHOPLIFTER has been barred from Skipton town centre shops after admitting stealing from Poundland and the Yorkshire Trading Company.

Jennifer Downing, 39, of Pinhaw Road, Skipton, will however be allowed into to enter Tesco and Lloyds Pharmacy, to collect her methadone prescription, said Skipton magistrates.

Downing, of Pinhaw Road, Skipton, felt a compulsion to steal and she had asked police herself to impose the ban when she was caught with the items on November 5, the court heard.

Downing was well known by police because of previous shoplifting and at the time had been subject to a community order and curfew, the court heard.

Downing, who admitted stealing £9 of food and clothing from Poundland, and clothing of unknown value from the Yorkshire Trading Company, had relapsed into taking drugs last year, the court was told in mitigation.

Paul Milner said she was now on a methadone programme and was not stealing to buy drugs, but from a compulsion to steal.

“Her habit is shoptheft not drugs, she wanted the police to stop her going into shops, she fears if she puts her foot across the threshold she will commit offences,” he said.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with supervision and six sessions of women’s specified activity. She was banned from town centre shops, except Tesco and Lloyds Pharmacy, for three months. She was also ordered to pay a victims surcharge of £60, but no costs.

Alongside the ban she was given a 12-month community order with supervision, six sessions of women’s specified activity and a £60 surcharge.

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