Thatcham drug addict could not remember meat theft

Woman fined £90 after being identified on supermarket CCTV

A THATCHAM woman could not remember stealing meat from her local supermarket because of her drug addiction, a magistrates court heard.

Rachel Soworka, of Kennet Close, stole £25 of steak and other meats from Sainsbury’s in Coombe Square on March 3.

The 39-year-old was identified on CCTV by police officers and attended a voluntary interview where she was presented with the footage. However, Ms Soworka said she couldn’t remember committing the act.

Defending, Stephen Collins said his client stole because of her drug addiction, but added that Ms Soworka had recently had “the wake-up call she needed” after becoming seriously ill because of her addiction and had spent time in Royal Berkshire Hospital’s intensive care unit and Guy’s Hospital, London.

He added she had since kept out of trouble, was receiving help for her addiction, and told magistrates they were “unlikely to see her in court again”.

Appearing at Reading Magistrates Court on Thursday, Ms Soworka was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and fined £90 for the theft.