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03
Feb
Woman fined after stealing £1,000 worth of goods from Harrogate shops
A woman has been fined for stealing more than £1,000 worth of goods from several Harrogate shops.
Jessica Starling-Brayshaw, who gave her address as Brooks Lane in Middlesbrough, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (January 31) charged with three counts of theft from a shop.
She pleaded guilty to all charges.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police officers were alerted on October 15 last year after CCTV operators had been keeping observations on a woman that day.
The court heard officers were called to a car park on Harrogate’s Station Parade, where the woman had returned to her car throughout the day.
Ms Ibbotson said police searched the car at 1.50pm and officers found a number of items, including a pair of nail scissors and a magnet.
Starling-Brayshaw, 44, stole £1,025 worth of stock from three Harrogate stores.
She stole £682.50 worth of goods from M&S, £68.92 from TK Maxx and £274 from a third store.
Ms Ibbotson told the court the defendant “immediately admitted the offences” when police approached her. She added:
The defendant told police: 'It’s OK, I will admit to everything. I did it, fine.'
The court heard Starling-Brayshaw is of previous good character and showed remorse for her actions.
The defendant was also struggling financially at the time, Ms Ibbotson said.
‘I’m almost thankful it happened’, defendant says
Starling-Brayshaw, who was legally unrepresented in court, said she knew what she did was wrong.
The defendant told the court:
I am almost thankful it happened, as it has really made me take a hard look at myself. I have been so alone, and I thought I was doing OK. This is not a sob story, I’m just trying to explain.
Starling-Brayshaw, who was visibly upset in court, said she can often be found with nail scissors on her, as she is a cleaner and wants to clean her nails after a job.
She said the magnet found by police was also used for her work.
The court heard the defendant has since written to all three companies. She offered to pay compensation and told them she is “so sorry”.
“I have tried to put this right”, Starling-Brayshaw said.
The magistrates ordered Starling-Brayshaw to pay a total of £253. This comprises a £120 fine, £85 in prosecution costs and a £48 surcharge.
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