Paragraph six reads: "Mr Youds added: 'She stated she did not know what she was doing and was going through a hard time in her personal life and was suffering from depression'.”

Paragraph nine reads: "“Her marriage had broken down, she had a miscarriage two years ago. Since then she has been on anti-depressants ."

http://www.ellesmereportpioneer.co.uk/ellesmere-port-news/local-ellesmere-port-news/2009/01/21/employee-shoplifted-60-of-underwear-55940-22736211/

Employee shoplifted £60 of underwear

Jan 21 2009 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Ellesmere Port Pioneer

Employee shoplifted £60 of underwear

Jan 21 2009 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Ellesmere Port Pioneer

A WORKER at Marks & Spencer has admitted stealing underwear from the store while she was off duty.

Tracy Denise McCormack, 44, of Seymour Drive, Ellesmere Port had a part-time position at the Chester store on Foregate Street and on December 5, she took £61.50 worth of underwear.

Rob Youds, prosecuting, told Chester, Ellesmere Port & Neston magistrates that at 2.50pm that day, McCormack also stole two handbags and a T-shirt from River Island in the city’s Grosvenor Precinct.

Staff there became suspicious and kept an eye on her when she was seen entering the changing rooms. When she left, they spotted packaging in the changing room and McCormack was challenged when she set the alarms off on her way out. Staff found two handbags on her.

Earlier at Marks & Spencer she had bought several items but stole underwear.

Mr Youds added: “She stated she did not know what she was doing and was going through a hard time in her personal life and was suffering from depression.”

McCormack, who was convicted of three shop thefts last August, had lived in Leeds until May last year when she moved to the area with her three young children.

Howard Jones, defending, said: “She can only state the reason why the offences happen is because her life was in turmoil at the time.

“Her marriage had broken down, she had a miscarriage two years ago. Since then she has been on anti-depressants.

“The divorce has been acrimonious and the police have been involved. It may have been something of a cry for help.”

District judge Nicholas Sanders told McCormack: “You knew working at Marks & Spencer the additional hassle Christmas shoplifting causes and stole in any event.”

He fined her £35 for each theft, £43 costs and a £15 victim’s surcharge