Woman who targeted charity shop in stealing spree jailed for six months - police found illegal drug hidden in her bra

Ann McClorey took jewellery, clothes, handbags, cosmetics and children’s shoes from four stores targeted on the same day.

The 42-year-old also stole KitKat chocolate bars and tins of rum in separate raids.

McClorey, with an address at Waring Street in the city, admitted five counts of theft, burglary and possessing a Class C drug.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard she was detained at an Oxfam shop on July 31 last year.

Goods valued at £55 had been stolen from the store.

Prosecutors said she had targeted branches of Monsoon at Victoria Square, Boots in the CastleCourt shopping centre, and TK Maxx at Donegall Arcade earlier that day.

More than £230 worth of stock was taken in total.

In November last year McClorey was arrested again following a further spate of shoplifting.

She stole four KitKats valued at £3.60 from Centra on Donegall Square West.

When detained later at a bus station the chocolate bars were located beside her.

The burglary involved defying an exclusion order to enter at Tesco Express on Royal Avenue, where she stole five tins of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum.

During later searches a Pregabalin tablet was discovered in a bag located in her bra.

A Crown lawyer told the court: “She said she didn’t remember what had happened as she was off her head.”

Defence barrister Turlough Madden argued that his client was not shoplifting to sell on the stolen goods.

“She resides in hostel accommodation and leads an isolated lifestyle,” he said.

“It doesn’t appear that she gained anything from this type of shoplifting.”

But Judge Liam McStay held: “The spree in Belfast city centre could hardly be passed off as an opportunistic crime.”

Citing McClorey’s previous record of 27 thefts, he imposed a total sentence of six months custody.