Two women were caught tucking into a haul of stolen Greggs grub soon after stealing it from a shop.
Police were on patrol on Shields Road in Byker, Newcastle, on the afternoon of Sunday, November 3 when they were made aware of a theft from a branch of the famous Geordie bakery chain, Newcastle Magistrates’ Court heard.
Paul Coulson, prosecuting, said: “There is CCTV footage which shows two offenders entering Greggs and taking various items from the shelves.”
Officers were given a description of the two female thieves and were quickly able to identify them, and after going to a property where one of the women was known to live, police found them both inside, eating hot Greggs food. A number of the other stolen items, worth £25, were found on a table in the living room, the court heard.
Victoria Cronin, 41, of Doris Wilkes House in Byker, pleaded guilty to theft from a shop when she appeared before magistrates on Monday. Her co-accused, Claire Perry, 46, of Gordon House, also in Byker, was not at court but was convicted of the same offence in her absence.
Cronin was fined £40 for the offence and ordered to pay £12.50 in compensation to Greggs. Perry was fined £60 and must also pay £12.50 compensation.
Michael Crowe, mitigating for Cronin, said: “Miss Cronin apologies for her part in offending, which took place at a time when she was very much struggling financially. She couldn’t afford the food she took.”
Mr Crowe said his client also suffered from metal health problems, which include anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress disorder.