A shoplifter who typically stole designer goods turned her attention to discount supermarkets as she struggled to make ends meet, a court heard. Lisa Hudson stole £100 worth of cheese and meat from Lidl's Moseley Road store in Balsall Heath, Birmingham.
She has a lengthy list of previous convictions for theft, generally stealing expensive items to sell on. But as reported by the Birmingham Mail, the court heard the cost-of-living crisis had forced her to "downgrade" to feed herself.
Ian Gold, defending, said Hudson's history of drug addiction had led to a "chaotic life". And the 45-year-old from Kings Heath in Birmingham had over 40 previous convictions for similar offences.
"She went into shops and selected expensive items that were readily-sellable, usually designer items, Louis Vuitton bags, jewellery, expensive sunglasses from Rackhams and other classy stores around the city," he said.
"Hundreds, sometimes many hundreds of pounds worth of items being stolen. Her record speaks for itself.
"On this occasion she went into Lidl and stole food to eat. It was £99 worth.
"On this occasion she, like so many others, was struggling to make ends meet. She lives on her own.
"She's a solitary lady who, like so many these days, is struggling to fund sufficiently, even to buy a loaf of bread or something to eat. It's a sad tale, many can tell the same."
Hudson pleaded guilty to the September 5 theft as well as breaching a suspended sentence order, imposed last year for a previous offence. She was jailed for eight weeks.
