A Bradford mother-of-four who left her two-year-old son home alone while she went out shoplifting has been jailed for 28 days.

But 27-year-old Farmina Jan was released on bail after her solicitor gave notice of an appeal against the sentence.

Bradford magistrates heard how Jan was arrested after being seen leaving the BHS store in Broadway with a bag that was "overflowing'' with stolen clothing.

While she was being questioned, police went to her home in Holme Street, Little Horton, and heard screams coming from inside.

The two-year-old boy was found in a locked, unheated bedroom.

During questioning, it was revealed that Jan had earlier stolen clothes from the same store then taken them back and received gift vouchers in return.

She pleaded guilty to shoplifting, obtaining goods by deception and child neglect. She also asked for a further shoplifting offence to be taken into consideration.

Glenn Chivers, mitigating, said that on the day she was arrested it had been an "almost ridiculous scenario.''

He added: "I think the store detective could hardly believe his eyes when he saw the overflowing bag.

"There were 29 separate items - it is a very optimistic and unprofessional shoplifter who can attempt to steal 29 items and hope to be successful.

"The other children were at school and she has taken the opportunity, while the youngest child is asleep, to nip into town.''

The pre-sentence report suggested she had behaved in an attention-seeking fashion, almost expecting to be caught and not realising what the consequences would be.

"It was almost an attention-seeking device,'' said Mr Chivers. "The majority of the shame has already occurred. Her husband knows about it, her parents do and the community does.''

Passing sentence, bench chairman Shirley Hopkinson told Jan: "Perhaps the worst feature is that while shoplifting you left your child in a locked house.''

PC Dave Simpson, of Bradford Central Retail Theft Unit, said: "This shows the profits of the excellent working relationship between the police and the city centre store detectives who are all working together."

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