A 25-year-old prolific shoplifter has been jailed for nine and a half months for flouting a criminal behaviour order which bans her from entering shops in Gloucester and the Original Factory Shop in Cinderford.

Prosecutor Susan Cavender told Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday (May 31) that Sydney Beach 25, formerly of Worcester Street, Gloucester, and Belle Vue Road, Cinderford, is a 'prolific shoplifter' who has spent the last five months on remand in custody.

Ms Cavender said: "Beach is before the court for four shoplifting offences and two breaches of a criminal behaviour order that was imposed on her by Cheltenham magistrates in April last year."

"The order bans her from entering any retail premises in Gloucester and the Original Factory Shop in Cinderford."

The court was told that Beach had recently been convicted of thefts on May 21, 2021 when she entered the Food Warehouse in the Peel Centre, Gloucester, and stole a pair of headphones and two bluetooth speakers together with other items valued at £79 in total.

Two days later, in company with another offender, she took clothing and a beard trimmer from TK Maxx in Gloucester without paying for the items, which were valued at £42.97.

Ms Cavender said: "The new offences for which Beach is to be sentenced began on October 14, 2021, when she entered the Original Factory Shop in Cinderford and walked out without paying for a wireless speaker and a coat valued at £68.

"Five days later Beach entered that same store and took a men's coat valued at £50. On November 2, 2021 she helped herself to a number of hoodie sweat shirts, valued at £112.

"On January 8 this year she took another coat valued at £25 from the Original Factory Shop in Cinderford and walked out without paying.

"Beach also breached the terms of her criminal behaviour order on October 14, 2021 and January 8, 2022.

"The total of all the items stolen during the four shoplifting offences was £378.78. Beach has five convictions for 16 offences including one breach of the current criminal behaviour order."

Nicholas Clough, for Beach, admitted that his client's criminal record was depressing and added: "She didn't start offending until she was aged 21 in 2018 while in the depth of a drug addiction.

"This resulted in a catalogue of shoplifting offences and breaches of court orders. Various community orders have been tried and failed.

"Beach developed her drug habit through her partner who was heavily involved in Class A drugs, mainly heroin.

"The offences speak for themselves. However, when Beach was remanded in prison, she was given prescription medication to wean her off drugs. That has substantially reduced and she should be free of this medication in the next few months.

"Beach says that it will be her intention to seek profession drug rehabilitation help once released from prison as she states she doesn't want to get involved in drugs ever again.

"There are many voices which say that sending people to prison never works, but in the case of Beach it has. She is now clear of Class A drugs and she has no intention of getting involved again.

"Putting her offending into context, individually none of them are more than £112 but collectively they do amount to a large amount."

Beach pleaded guilty to the four thefts from the Original Factory Shop of items valued at £68 on October 14, 2021, £40 on October 19, 2021; £112 on November 2, 2021 and £35 on January 8, 2022. She also admitted two breaches of her criminal behaviour order on October 14, 2021 and January 8, 2022.

The judge, Recorder Richard Stead, told Beach: "You have an unhappy criminal record. Your offending started in 2018 when you started taking drugs.

"You have previous convictions for similar offences for which you have received a variety of community orders and a criminal behaviour order which you have constantly breached.

"This is persistent offending, but I accept you have taken steps to combat your drug addiction while remanded in prison."

The judge sentenced Beach to a 42-week prison term and ordered her to pay a victim surcharge £156.