A Portadown woman has been jailed for a spate of shoplifting in the town.
Keara McKeown (30), of Obins Avenue, took almost £500 worth of groceries in eight incidents in September and October this year.
On August 24 she stole two Amazon parcels – which had been left at a property – containing items worth £26.
She appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday via video link from prison.
A defence solicitor said the defendant had a “terrible record”.
She said the defendant is “vulnerable” and has mental health and addiction issues.
The solicitor said the defendant had used heroin and cocaine “in the past” but is “still struggling with addiction to cannabis”.
The court was told the defendant wants to use her time in custody “to try and clean herself up” and the hope is she can “try to turn her life around” when released.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said there had been “considerable disruption to shops”
As well as the matters before the court the defendant had suspended sentences activated and was given a total prison term of nine months.
The judge told her: “Use that time in custody to deal with all of your issues as far as you can. You will get support in prison.”
