Prolific shoplifter sentenced after threatening Co-op manager

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 07:01 · Archive

Rebecca Woodend was fined £120 after attempting to steal £77.05 of goods from a Co-op and threatening the store manager.

Rebecca Woodend, 32, of Swarthmoor, was sentenced at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court after attempting to steal £77.05 worth of food items from a Co-op on Abbey Road in Barrow on 24 September. The store's team leader recognised her from previous shoplifting offences. When challenged, she claimed the shopping in her bag was from another store, before threatening the manager by saying she would punch him in the face if he followed her.

Prosecutor Glenn Anderton told the court that Woodend has 28 previous offences on her record, 23 of which relate to dishonesty. Her solicitor, Shaun Harkin, said in mitigation that she was on a community order at the time and had committed the offence in its early stages. He noted she was 'engaging well and is starting to bear the fruit of the work she is doing'.

Magistrates fined Woodend £120 and ordered her to pay £77.05 in compensation to the Co-op. Speaking in court, Woodend said: 'My life is horrible at the moment. I'm on a waiting list for medication. I had been self-medicating. I'm sorry.'

How it is being reported

• ‘My life is horrible’ - Prolific shoplifter threatened Co-op manager during theftA RENOWNED thief has been sentenced in court following her latest shoplifting spree.NW Evening Mail · 14 Nov, 06:00
• ‘My life is horrible’ - Prolific shoplifter threatened Co-op manager during theftA RENOWNED thief has been sentenced in court following her latest shoplifting spree.Westmorland Gazette · 14 Nov, 06:00

In this story: Rebecca Woodend · South Cumbria Magistrates' Court · Co-op · Barrow · Swarthmoor

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log