Thatcham mum ordered to pay supermarket compensation following theft

A DESPERATE mother who could not afford her daily shop has been ordered to pay compensation to a Thatcham supermarket after stealing a host of items hidden in her child’s buggy.

Reading Magistrates Court heard how Lilly Black, of Rotary Way, Thatcham, walked into the Co-op in Broadway with her two young children on May 29.

Prosecuting, Helen Waite told the court how the 30-year-old mother proceeded to stroll through the store collecting various items, including frozen food and pastries, and loading them into her younger child’s buggy.

She then left the store without making any attempt to pay for the items.

Miss Black was subsequently identified on CCTV and admitted the theft to police.

According to her solicitor, Stephen Collins, Miss Black was ashamed of taking the goods, but “simply didn’t have the money to buy her daily shop for her children”.

The food was never recovered.

Magistrates told Miss Black to pay compensation to the Co-op to the value of £55.54, and also £50 in costs and a victim surcharge of £20.

She was also given a conditional discharge for 12 months.