Repeat offender is given a chance after committing thefts

A troubled repeat offender has been given a last chance by the courts after she has clocked up a string of thefts to her name.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.Chesterfield magistrates' court.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Tuesday, May 23, how Stacey Barnes, 26, of Midland Terrace, on Fairfield Road, Buxton, stole cream cakes from an Aldi store in Buxton, breached a community order imposed for numerous previous thefts and attempted thefts and she also made off from a taxi-driver without paying her fare.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “She went into Aldi on January 17 and saw the cream cakes and took them and was not stopped.

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“In relation to making off from the taxi-driver without paying her fare she had appeared at court that day on February 24 and took a taxi back to Buxton and the driver said the fare was £50 and she said payment would be made on arrival.

“But she went into a property on Midland Terrace and no one came back and he contacted police and she agreed to pay by March 15 but she made no attempt to pay.”

Mrs Allsop added that Barnes has also committed four shop thefts involving two Co-op stores and a Tesco.

The court also confirmed that she has committed nine thefts and two attempted thefts in Lincolnshire and Buxton which were subject to a community order.

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Barnes admitted stealing the cream cakes, breaching her community order and making off from a taxi-driver without paying.

Defence solicitor Kirsty Sargent told the magistrates: “She is aware you will be concerned there was offending while she was subject to a community order.

“She explained that regarding the offence of making off without paying the taxi driver she left court needing to get to Buxton to pick-up her methadone prescription within a certain time and without it there would have been a set-back and she would have to use illegal substances.”

Ms Sargent added that she had hoped her partner would help pay the taxi fare but he had not been at the property.

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Barnes has also had her benefits stopped, according to Ms Sargent, but as problems developed she avoided going to the probation service for help because she thought she would make matters worse.

Magistrates sentenced Barnes to 18 weeks of custody suspended for 12 months with a 16 week curfew. However, magistrates warned Barnes that if she commits another offence she will be going to custody.

She was also ordered to pay £115.56 in compensation.