A pregnant Isle of Wight woman struggling financially made a "spur of the moment decision" to steal less than £5 worth of salad and cake bars, a court has heard.
Freya Jones, 37, of Fort Mews in Sandown, appeared before IW Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, June 2.
Jones pleaded guilty to a single charge of shop theft.
Prosecutor Liz Miller told the court that at around 10.30am on April 20, Jones entered the Co-op on Sandown High Street and placed a salad and cake bars, worth £4.25, into her handbag before leaving without paying.
Trial day one:
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The court heard Jones was fined £50 in January for a separate shoplifting offence.
Ms Miller also outlined Jones's previous record, including an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months after she breached a community order when she was found carrying a kitchen knife in her handbag at Newport Police Station in 2023.
That order was later extended by three months following further offending.
Defending, Michael McGoldrick said the latest offence had been committed after the suspended sentence order had expired.
Mr McGoldrick told magistrates Jones, who is due to give birth in July, had taken the items as a "spur of the moment decision" because she lacked the money to buy food.
Magistrates ordered Jones to pay £4.25 compensation to Co-op.
