SERIAL shoplifter Claire Wilson – branded a "one-woman crime wave" – has been jailed after reverting to crime just days after being released from prison and given a chance.
She had been given an antisocial behaviour order in December because of her prolific thieving but she has now been locked up yet again.
Wilson, 39, of Redbourne Road, Grimsby, admitted two offences of theft and one of attempted theft.
David Gordon, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Wilson stole goalkeepers' shirts, away strips, shorts and replica strips, valued at £319, belonging to Grimsby Town Football Club, on October 18 and put them in a bag.
She also put two Grimsby Town rain jackets over her arm and left but was identified from closed circuit television pictures following an article in the Grimsby Telegraph.
She also stole toiletries from a Lincoln Co-operative store in Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, on October 19 and put them in her handbag. She also attempted to steal a bottle of whisky from Pennys in Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, on October 24.
She had convictions for 214 offences, including 137 for theft, and had been given an Antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) in December last year.
She had been given a one-year supervision order at the same court on October 12 for theft offences.
Recorder Jonathan Bennett told Wilson: "People have bent over backwards to avoid sending you to prison.
"I have no choice because you have had so many opportunities."
Wilson was jailed for six months.
Simon Hirst, mitigating, said Wilson had been in custody for 16 days and, before her earlier appearance, had spent another 117 days in custody.
After she was previously released, there were problems immediately because Wilson could not obtain a benefit crisis loan.
She went to the Salvation Army hostel but, because she did not have the necessary £31 fee, she spent that night living on the streets and committed the offences to raise some money.
"She considers herself institutionalised and feels safest when she is in custody," said Mr Hirst.
"She has been in custody a lot. It hasn't had the effect of stopping her committing offending when she is at large."
As reported, when the Asbo was made at Grimsby Magistrates' Court, Police Community Support Officer Simon Saxby, who works in the town centre, said: "Claire Wilson is a one-woman crime wave.
"The Asbo should mean that the number of shoplifting offences goes through the floor – she is that prolific."
