She even returned to the same store a few weeks later and tried again
A drug-addicted woman with a worsening alcohol problem menacingly threatened to slit a shop manager’s throat with a knife during a “brazen” shoplifting mission at a supermarket. Serial offender Kirsty Gardiner returned to the same store a few weeks later on another thieving mission but she was soon recognised by police from telltale CCTV pictures, Hull Crown Court heard.
Gardiner, 42, of Staveley Road, east Hull, admitted robbery on May 26 and theft on June 20. The theft offence was originally charged as robbery but the plea to the lesser offence was accepted.
Billy Torbett, prosecuting, said that Gardiner went to the Cooperative store on the Elmbridge Parade of shops, Greatfield estate, east Hull, and put items into a bag. She was challenged by the shop manager before she could leave but Gardiner pulled out a knife and told her: “I’ll slit your throat. I’m taking it away.”
Gardiner left without paying for the goods, including steaks, chocolate, coffee and biscuits, valued at £100. On the second occasion, a member of staff alerted the manager about a woman going through the fridge and putting items in a large carrier bag.
Gardiner refused to leave and continued to put items in the bag. The manager grabbed the bag but Gardiner snatched packs of chicken and lamb, valued at £10, leaving behind goods worth £60.
Police identified Gardiner from CCTV pictures. She was later spotted by an officer who was driving along in Hopewell Road.
She denied that she was the person shown in the CCTV and claimed that she did not have the coat or trainers that were shown. Gardiner had convictions for 47 previous offences, including 27 for shoplifting.
Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that Gardiner had committed a string of shoplifting offences in the past but the latest ones marked a clear escalation in her offending. She suffered a crippling drug and alcohol addiction at the time.
“These have spiralled out of control,” said Mr Shipley. “She was looking to sell items on to fund her habit. She has returned to a more aggressive level in her alcohol consumption.
“She handed herself in two days after this. She knows she can’t behave like this. She has worked previously but that was some time ago. Since then, it has all been rather turbulent.
“There was a threat and the production of a bladed article but this was short-lived and, fortunately, nobody came to any additional harm. I accept that this would have been distressing.”
Gardiner was jailed for two years and three months. Judge John Thackray KC said that Gardiner intended to steal items in a “brazen” shop theft and she had, no doubt, been planning what was going to happen. “You were carrying a knife,” said Judge Thackray.