Hampshire Woman Jailed 36 Weeks for £964 Shop Thefts

Rachael Cole, a 44-year-old resident of Warren Close in Whitehill, Hampshire, has been sentenced to 36 weeks in prison after admitting to a series of thefts totaling £964 from shops in the villages of Hook and Liphook. The offenses occurred between November 10 and December 1, culminating in her appearance at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on December 5, where she pleaded guilty to four counts of theft.

The court imposed the prison term, which includes an activated suspended sentence order, alongside a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order designed to curb future offending. The order stems from Cole's attempts to conceal her identity during the thefts, including one instance where she wore a wig while stealing seven bags of dog food from a Sainsbury's store in Liphook.

Under the Criminal Behaviour Order, Cole is prohibited from wearing a wig, hairpiece, or any face covering that obscures her appearance while entering a shop. She is also banned from all Sainsbury's and Tesco stores across the United Kingdom, as well as the B&M store in Bordon, near her home. Additional restrictions require her to place any items she intends to purchase in a basket or trolley and keep them there until...