Sweet-toothed shoplifter admits stealing over £300 of chocolate, sweets and wine ahead of prison release
Emily O’Brien is due to be released from prison next month.
A sweet-toothed shoplifter with a reputation for stealing has pleaded guilty to a string of other offences - but won't have her prison sentence extended.
Emily O'Brien, 32 and previously of Gosport, is currently at HMP Bronzefield in Middlesex, serving time for robbery after being sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court earlier this month.
O'Brien, currently of no fixed abode, has a number of previous convictions that include robbing a pensioner at an ATM in 2023, stealing a purse and cards from a woman with dementia in 2020, and stealing a purse in 2017. Her previous criminal endeavours have often been reported by The News, and she has been jailed on multiple occasions for her offending.
Appearing via video link at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court earlier today (Wednesday, May 20), O'Brien also admitted to stealing chocolate, sweets and bottles of wine from a Southern Co-Op - to the tune of £307.25.
She also pleaded guilty to an additional count of theft, common assault, criminal damage, and drunk and disorderly behaviour.
O'Brien pleaded with the court for leniency, insisting her days of criminal activity are behind her. She said: "I tell you judge, I'm not coming back to prison after this. I'm done, it's all over."
The prolific shoplifter is due to be released from prison next month, and lead magistrate Barrie Audus opted not to extend her sentence.
Sentencing, he said: "From what we have heard about the offences, they are serious enough to cross the custody threshold. You are working to a release date of June 17, that's four weeks today.
"We will give you four weeks custody, starting today - it would have been six weeks, if it wasn't for your guilty plea.
"There will be no extra time added."
For her crimes, O'Brien was sentenced to four weeks in prison, to be served concurrently with her existing custody stint. This means she will still be released on June 17.
She was also ordered to pay £100 in fines. £50 will be paid to the Southern Co-Op, while £50 will go to the common assault victim.
No sentence was handed down for the drunk and disorderly behaviour.