A homeless shoplifter burst into tears in court after begging magistrates to jail her so she wouldn’t end up back on the streets.
Julie Drever, 51, asked a court to jail her for shoplifting, then broke down and started shouting pleas when it looked as though she would be spared the prison term.
Drever, a mum, had breached a supervision order for a previous offence when she stole five jars of coffee worth £16 from B&M Bargains in Grimsby on April 16. She went back to the shop a day later and stole another eight jars of coffee, worth £24.43, putting them in her handbag.
Andrew Vaughan, prosecuting, told Grimsby magistrates: “She told police she stole smaller jars on the second day because she could fit more in her bag. She had been living rough.
Her defence lawer, Saleem Khan, said Drever’s benefits had been stopped and she had no money.
She stole because she wanted to go to jail “for a shower and a fresh start” he told the court.
“She was homeless, hungry and suffering heroin withdrawal,” said Mr. Khan.
“She wishes to go to custody today. It’s not something I like asking for. Usually, other options are available to the court.
“She is worried that, if released immediately by the court, she will be back on the streets and will be back on the heroin and back stealing again.
“While in prison, she will clean herself up, shower herself and, she hopes, emerge with an address to go to.”
Drever admitted the two shoplifting offences and another of breaching her post-sentence supervision.
The probation service told the court that support was available to her, before magistrates sentenced her to 12 months in jail.
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