Woman jailed for stealing ice creams from Dunfermline's Poundland

Police called to the scene found Jacqueline Clarke and her look-out, Mandy Wilson, standing outside Poundland licking at the £1 ice creams.

Serial shoplifter and drug addict Clarke’s record was described as “deplorable” by the sheriff, who sent her to jail.

In the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court were Clarke, 44, of Baldridgeburn, and Wilson, 34, of Golfdrum Street, both Dunfermline.

They admitted that on June 5, at Poundland, Kingsgate Centre, they stole a quantity of ice creams.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said that at around 10.40am, both women were seen in the shop premises.

“The accused Clarke had put her handbag on top of a freezer and was putting items into it. Her co-accused appeared to be acting as a look-out,” added Ms Yousaf.

“They were stopped by security guards and both of them apologised. There were 20 ice creams stolen at a value of £20. Two of them were consumed and so only 18 ice creams were recovered.”

Defence solicitor James Moncrieff said his client Clarke had a long-standing difficulty with drug misuse.

“She had taken Valium and doesn’t recall too much about this incident. The items were taken to be sold for drugs money,” he added.

“The crime was not well-executed. She was standing outside the shop eating one of the ice creams when police located her.

“It was a pretty stupid theft and the items taken were not likely to have much monetary value.”

Defence solicitor Elaine Buist, representing Wilson, said her client had also consumed Valium before the offence.

“She didn’t appreciate the quantity of ice creams being taken. She thought they were just taking some to eat, not to sell,” she added.

Clarke was jailed for four months because of her long list of previous offences, many for shoplifting. She had been put on a restriction of liberty order for another theft earlier this month.

Sheriff Charles MacNair told her: “You have a dreadful record.”

Sentence on Wilson was deferred until July 1 for reports.