Thief used tin foil to beat security in clothes shop

When questioned by the police, Rebecca Alcock, 32, said she had a bag of washing - but officers saw price tags from the Select store, East Riding magistrates heard.

Prosecuting, Colette Dixon said police had been called following reports of a female acting suspiciously in The Promenade shopping centre.

While speaking to police, Alcock said she was pregnant and complained of stomach pains and was taken by ambulance to Scarborough Hospital, the court heard.

Weeks later she failed to attend Bridlington police station for interview and was found at a dwelling on Bridlington’s Promenade in a “drug-induced stupor,” barely able to remember the offences, said Mrs Dixon.

She added: “She didn’t know if she’d put tin foil on the security tags, but knew it was to prevent the security system going off.”

The court heard Alcock had 21 pages of previous convictions on her file. She pleaded guilty to two counts of shop theft, one from Peacocks and the other from Select, both on August 12 this year.

Defending, Ed Cunnah said the offences pre-dated a prison sentence during which time she become drug free.

Handing her a 12-month conditional discharge, chairman of the bench Pam Booth told Alcock: “This is not getting off lightly - you have to stay out of trouble!”

“I know. I’m at college now,” replied Alcock.

Alcock, whose address was given as Promenade, Bridlington, was ordered to pay £15 victim surcharge.