Shoplifting friends from Wisbech were 'desperate' court hears

Two shoplifting friends threw clothes at shop staff as they tried to make good their escape.

Seherezada Maria Calin and Amalia Sorina Vaduva both from Wisbech had taken £921 of clothing and footwear from JD Sports in King's Lynn High Street. When the store’s security alarm sounded they were pursued by staff.

Less than an hour earlier the pair had stole more than £700 of clothing and fragrances from TK Maxx.

Calin, 22, and Vaduva, 19, appeared before Lynn Magistrates’ court on Thursday to each plead guilty to two counts of theft on November 19.

Prosecutor Stacie Cossey said the first theft happened at about 11am, with £705.15 of items placed in bags and the women leaving the store without making any attempt to pay.

It was a similar story at JD Sports but the store’s alarm was activated. Miss Cossey added: “They ran away from the store, throwing clothes at staff. The females were detained by officers slightly later and further goods were recovered. Both defendants were arrested and admitted the offences.”

Andrew Cogan, mitigating for Calin, said the goods being stolen were clothing for her young children.

“There was also some perfume,” he added. “At the time she was in work but on the minimum wage. These offences were borne out of desperation.”

Charlotte Winchester, for Vaduva, said her teenaged client – a Romanian mother of two - had stolen the goods for herself and her family.

Miss Winchester added: “She’s lived in the UK for three months. She came for work and has now obtained employment in a local fruit factory.”

A probation officer told the court: “They have found living in this country expensive sot hey decided to shoplift for themselves and the family.”

Calin, of Cherry Road, Wisbech, and Vaduva, of Raymond Street, Wisbech, were each sentenced to a 12-month community order with 80 hours’ unpaid work and ordered to pay £90 victim surcharge.