Reading Magistrates’ Court: Upper Bucklebury shoplifter jailed for Thatcham offences

A SHOPLIFTER has been jailed for offences of theft and assault.

In the dock at Reading Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, May 3, was Nia Michael.

The 36-year-old, of Roundfield, Upper Bucklebury, had admitted stealing bottles of alcohol worth £186.50 belonging to Waitrose in Thatcham on Sunday, January 8.

She had further pleaded guilty, at a previous hearing, to stealing bottles of alcohol worth £181.49 from Waitrose and to assaulting Michelle Tomlin by beating her.

These two offences were committed in Thatcham on Wednesday, January 11.

Magistrates had ordered pre-sentence reports to be prepared on an 'all options' basis, including custody and meanwhile granted Ms Michael bail.

At the sentencing hearing on May 8 magistrates told her that an immediate custodial sentence was necessary because she had shown a “flagrant disregard for previous court orders” and because of her record of previous convictions.

Ms Michael was jailed for a total of six weeks.

No order for costs was made but she was required to pay a statutory victim services surcharge of £154.