A PROLIFIC shoplifter who stole hundreds of pounds worth of items from stores across Taunton has received a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

Laura Thistleton, 31, of no fixed address, committed 11 thefts during an 18-day spree earlier this month (August).

Imposing the sentence, magistrates at Taunton Magistrates’ Court slammed her “flagrant disregard for people and their property”.

Thistleton’s thefts began on August 1 when she stole goods to the value of £74 from Boots.

The following day she took items worth £101.94 from Holland & Barrett, as well as jointly stealing £350-worth of goods belonging to Tesco, in East Reach, in two incidents.

She returned to Holland & Barrett the next day to jointly lift goods priced at £220 and then on August 4 helped herself to items valued at £110 and others worth £205.50 from Marks & Spencer, and items valued at £110 from the Co-op, in Cheddon Road.

Thistelton’s other targets were Tesco, in East Reach (August 5, goods valued at £200); M&S (August 13, £230; and August 14, value unknown); and the Co-op, in Cheddon Road (August 18, £199).

At the same court, Daniel Westcott, 33, of Kershaw Close, Taunton, pleaded guilty to four counts of joint theft with Thistleton at Boots, Holland & Barrett and M&S twice.

He did not plead to two counts of loitering outside Co-op, in Cheddon Road, on August 4 and 18, which he was banned from doing under a Criminal Behaviour Order and one count of stealing alcohol valued at £100 from M&S.

Westcott was remanded in custody ahead of his next court appearance on Wednesday (August 28) due to “the nature and seriousness of the offences” and his “previous record and character”.