Mother convicted of 73 offences in two years is spared prison

A shameless mother who ignored court bans from two town centres and three villages to go shoplifting again has been spared jail by a judge.

Prolific store thief Lauren Wilson, 28, was told by Judge Jonathan Seely that she did not require 'punishment' despite clocking up 73 offences on her record in just two years.

Wilson, who has a nine year old son, has preyed on shops in Macclesfield, Cheshire, Buxton and Derbyshire and has two further convictions for violence.

Since 2023 she has been issued with two Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) banning her from venturing into both towns and neighbouring villages but she has repeatedly been caught flouting the orders to carry on thieving.

Wilson struck again only seven days after getting her second CBO for stealing a bottle of wine of a Bargain Boozer store in Buxton. 

Between June and July this year she was caught ignoring the CBO seven times and stealing groceries from a Morrisons store, a One stop shop and Superdrug before being arrested. 

She later claimed she had 'difficult childhood' and stole to feed a drug habit.

At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester Wilson faced up to 18 months jail under sentencing guidelines after she pleaded guilty to seven breaches of a CBO, six charges of theft, one attempted theft and possession of MDMA but was given 12 months jail suspended for two years.

The judge refused to make her complete unpaid work and instead offered her the chance to take part in a nine month drug rehabilitation programme which she accepted. 

She had been already held on remand at Styal women's jail in Cheshire for three and a half months. The two CBOs will remain in force.

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In an unusual move Judge Seely removed his wig ahead of sentencing and told Wilson: 'I imagine you were expecting some custody which is what you would normally get. 

'You have a bad record albeit relatively recent but I have been drawn to some positive things said about you in your pre sentence report and I am going to give you a chance.

'You might be thinking "soft touch judge" and have a laugh later but I am taking you and this matter seriously.

'You had a difficult start in life although that stops being an excuse for criminal behaviour - however the report says you want to turn you life round and everybody deserves a chance. 

'You have been given several already but I am going to give you another chance and I hope you take advantage of it.'

The judge told her to attend monthly review hearings and complete 20 rehabilitation activity days but spared her paying any compensation and added: 'I'm not going to pass any punitive element because I want you to understand I am actually wanting very much to help if I can.

'You are still relatively young and have had difficulties. This maybe a chance for you to change. My advice is to take it with both hands and I hope it goes well and stop you being being a nuisance to everybody you steal from.

'But it's not all softly softly judge - I will reserve any breaches of this order myself. If you breach these order you would go back to prison but the requirements here are designed to help you. 

'In your case and this is really unusual I'm not giving you any punishment at all because I am taking this as opportunity to try and help you which ultimately helps potential victims.' 

In April last year Wilson had been banned from Tesco Superstore, a Co-Op and a McColls newsagents in Macclesfield after police branded her 'prolific offender who brought misery to residents and businesses in the town.'

Then in June this year was banned from Buxton town centre for two years and the nearby Peak District villages of Burbage, Staden and Fairfield with police saying her offending 'blighted the communities.'

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But Miss Olivia Brooksbank-Laing prosecuting told the court how Wilson repeatedly ignored the bans and stole washing up liquid, deodorant, and an electric tooth brush, plus a gammon joint, Cathedral cheese, six beef steaks, protein bars and other other food times during a series of store thefts.

Miss Brooksbank-Laing added: 'Some of these offences were committed on bail after the defendant appeared in a magistrates court. Her previous convictions are significant and there is a history of disobedience with court orders. Compensation is requested from some of the stores that were identified.'

In mitigation for Wilson who now lives in Chapel En Le Frith, defence counsel Thomas Sherrington said: 'If a custodial sentence can be avoided and I accept that's unlikely, then it can be suspended.

'The vast majority of these offences take place after June 2022 and this was a particularly chaotic period in her life underpinned by the taking of hard drugs. Prior to that there was battery in 2017 and assault on police in 2013 and that's it.

'Her latest period in custody has benefitted her because she had got herself clean and got her life back on track. She has a desire to formulate more contact with her nine year old son.'

According to a recent survey by the British Retail Consortium, shoplifting in the UK has hit a record high with 16.7 million incidents recorded last year - more than double compared with 2022. 

The thefts cost retailers about £1.8bn with violence and abuse against shop workers spiking last year to 1,300 incidents daily, a rise of 50% from 870 the year before. About 8,800 of the total across the year resulted in injury.