Shoplifting friends banned from seeing each other for a year (From Free Press Series)
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Shoplifting friends banned from seeing each other for a year
7:30am Monday 22nd October 2012 in News
Exclusive By Chris Wood, Reporter
FRIENDS DISUNITED: Stephanie Skinner, left, and Claire McCarthy
TWO friends were banned from having any contact for a year after they admitted two shoplifting sprees in Cwmbran and Abergavenny.
Claire Louise McCarthy, 31 and Stephanie Louise Skinner, 22, who stole items including confectionary, self-tanning lotion, cleaning products, CDs and hair ties after targeting seven different shops, were told they could be jailed if they are spotted together.
At Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor Rob Simkins said McCarthy, of Clos Bury Capel and Skinner of St David’s Road, both Abergavenny, "went on two shoplifting sprees" in the town centres.
The first was on the afternoon of August 14 when they travelled to Cwmbran and entered shops together, but acted separately.
Skinner took cosmetics and hair ties from the Pound Shop, worth £16, hair ties from Superdrug worth £2.72p, two books and a CD worth £19 from The Works and cosmetics worth £20.16 from Boots.
McCarthy took hair products worth £21 from Superdrug and five bottles of self-tanning lotion worth £110 from Boots, where they were both spotted and detained outside.
They were arrested, with Mr Simkins saying Skinner got upset, crying and saying "It’s all my fault, it’s because of what I’ve been born into".
In police interview, McCarthy vowed "after today, I’ll never steal again"- but, less than a month later, the pair set out on their second shoplifting spree.
On September 10, they entered Abergavenny and jointly took cleaning products from Tesco, stationery from the Card Factory and confectionary from B&M Bargains.
Mr Simkins said they were arrested in a car park and McCarthy said "Steph is always putting stuff in my bag, I don’t know what to do".
As this statement was read out, the two defendants turned to each other and started laughing.
McCarthy admitted five counts of theft and Skinner seven, with their defence solicitor Paul Lewis saying they are both determined to stay on a new path.
Skinner was given a 12-month community order, with 60 hours unpaid work and McCarthy a 12-month supervision order with a drug rehabilitation requirement.
They were also banned from being in each other’s company for 12 months by chairman of the bench Gary Shide, who handed them prohibition notices.
Court clerk Steve Hancock warned them: "If it is reported you are in each other's company, you could be sent to prison."
Comments(54)
rightsideup
says...
8:06am Mon 22 Oct 12
They should have been sent to prison,laugh that one off!.
bobjones2011
says...
8:34am Mon 22 Oct 12
spanner100
says...
9:06am Mon 22 Oct 12
rightsideup
says...
9:07am Mon 22 Oct 12
Bobevans
says...
9:23am Mon 22 Oct 12
bobjones2011
says...
11:42am Mon 22 Oct 12
rhinestine
says...
12:38pm Mon 22 Oct 12
A right pair of common looking primark poachers! lol
Dolieboy
says...
12:46pm Mon 22 Oct 12
b3talover
says...
12:46pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Bobevans wrote:How do you know these people claim benefits? It's just a convenient assumption that you use to justify your right wing rants. You need to be careful associating individuals that claim benefits with thieves. Not all benefit claimants are thieves, drug dealers and the low life scum that you portray them to be. Many are well qualified individuals that have lost their jobs due to the recession. Your right wing villification of benefit claimants is very dangerous.
Whats the betting that this pair of wasters are not working and living on benefits. Making them do some work might help
b3talover
says...
12:48pm Mon 22 Oct 12
b3talover
says...
12:55pm Mon 22 Oct 12
rhinestine wrote:Would the fact that they are on benefits have any impact on the type of behaviour they display? Do you sincerely believe that all benefit claimants are suddenly transformed into thieves overnight? I get the feeling that only totally insecure individuals find people on benefits an easy target for abuse. And before you jump to any conclusions, no, I don't claim benefits.
Take the benefits from them, and lock them up for a few months as a lesson.
A right pair of common looking primark poachers! lol
stracey-tracey-smyth
says...
1:20pm Mon 22 Oct 12
rightsideup
says...
2:02pm Mon 22 Oct 12
b3talover wrote:What are your views on the two turning to each other and laughing whilst the prosecuting lawyer outlined the case against them in court?.To me it says a lot,to you?.
*vilification
b3talover
says...
2:44pm Mon 22 Oct 12
rightsideup wrote:That has no bearing on whether or not they claim benefits. The case has been heard and they have been duly sentenced. The sentence might not be tough enough for some, but everybody seems to be a judge these days. Let's leave it to the professionals. It's entirely possible that some judges might have seen the laughing as contempt.
b3talover wrote:What are your views on the two turning to each other and laughing whilst the prosecuting lawyer outlined the case against them in court?.To me it says a lot,to you?.
*vilification
b3talover
says...
3:05pm Mon 22 Oct 12
rhinestine wrote:You seem to have an amazing grasp of the psychology of benefit claimers in the Newport and Cwmbran area. I'm guessing you are a clinical psychologist for the NHS or in a similar role? If this is so, maybe you can explain your insecurity regarding benefit claimants? Do they frighten you? Are they a threat to you in some way? Dad was on benefits when you were young and you promised to work hard and not be like him? Spare me the "I work hard for a living" speech on your return. Everyone works hard and pays taxes. I'm more than happy for my contributions to safeguard those in society who are less fortunate and yes, I object to people abusing the system. However, you just can't go around pointing your finger at people you perceive to be claiming benefits on looks alone. If it was any other section of society you were pointing the finger at, you'd be locked up for doing so.
b3talover wrote:Yes, you do clam benefits....it's obvious!! Yes, the lot of them who are on benefits are all nasty grubby little existances! London riots, this lot, the lot you see milling around newport and cwmbran doing nothing except smoking and mouthing off, yes they deserve the tag!
rhinestine wrote:Would the fact that they are on benefits have any impact on the type of behaviour they display? Do you sincerely believe that all benefit claimants are suddenly transformed into thieves overnight? I get the feeling that only totally insecure individuals find people on benefits an easy target for abuse. And before you jump to any conclusions, no, I don't claim benefits.
Take the benefits from them, and lock them up for a few months as a lesson.
A right pair of common looking primark poachers! lol
However, genuine people who need benefits, who are victim of circumstance, i.e. willing to work, disabled etc, are a different bunch altogether, and I am aware of these genuine people, so they do not come into the same group as the people in the story.
Most benefit claimants are man and boy claimers! They have no desire to work at all!! like these pair!
sherrie
says...
3:12pm Mon 22 Oct 12
bobjones2011
says...
3:15pm Mon 22 Oct 12
rhinestine
says...
3:20pm Mon 22 Oct 12
bobjones2011 wrote:Well said bob!
b3talover - Why are you wasting your time with this? When all is said and done, whether certain people (myself included) have pre-conceived ideas or beliefs about a large amount of benefit claimants or not, the probable fact remains that these pair are likely to survive on benefits. You can write a sarcastic reply from your soapbox if you wish; however I wouldn't mind placing a bet that I am right. I get the impression that you are highly offended by people sharing this view, and feel as though we are tarring all claimants with the same brush, but where did anyone state that all benefit claimants shoplift from Poundland? Also you should try not to judge a book by it's cover but I'm sorry, look at the photographs they really do look like the stereotypical benefit claiming idiots you see loitering ATMs at midnight on "Payday".
rhinestine
says...
3:27pm Mon 22 Oct 12
b3talover wrote:You have a chip on your shoulder, that much is clear.
rhinestine wrote:You seem to have an amazing grasp of the psychology of benefit claimers in the Newport and Cwmbran area. I'm guessing you are a clinical psychologist for the NHS or in a similar role? If this is so, maybe you can explain your insecurity regarding benefit claimants? Do they frighten you? Are they a threat to you in some way? Dad was on benefits when you were young and you promised to work hard and not be like him? Spare me the "I work hard for a living" speech on your return. Everyone works hard and pays taxes. I'm more than happy for my contributions to safeguard those in society who are less fortunate and yes, I object to people abusing the system. However, you just can't go around pointing your finger at people you perceive to be claiming benefits on looks alone. If it was any other section of society you were pointing the finger at, you'd be locked up for doing so.
b3talover wrote:Yes, you do clam benefits....it's obvious!! Yes, the lot of them who are on benefits are all nasty grubby little existances! London riots, this lot, the lot you see milling around newport and cwmbran doing nothing except smoking and mouthing off, yes they deserve the tag!
rhinestine wrote:Would the fact that they are on benefits have any impact on the type of behaviour they display? Do you sincerely believe that all benefit claimants are suddenly transformed into thieves overnight? I get the feeling that only totally insecure individuals find people on benefits an easy target for abuse. And before you jump to any conclusions, no, I don't claim benefits.
Take the benefits from them, and lock them up for a few months as a lesson.
A right pair of common looking primark poachers! lol
However, genuine people who need benefits, who are victim of circumstance, i.e. willing to work, disabled etc, are a different bunch altogether, and I am aware of these genuine people, so they do not come into the same group as the people in the story.
Most benefit claimants are man and boy claimers! They have no desire to work at all!! like these pair!
Our country is full of these kind, and yes, I have some profiling skills! But it does not take Stephen Hawkins (A brilliant mind, in case you have not encountered the name) to identify the tracksuit wearing, tattoo sporting, fake gold wearing, lazy, common, rude, scruffy benefit reliant population!!
They do frighten me, as my tax could be used to help cancer patients, police services and pay for pensions of war hero's rather than spending it on this scruffy lot!!
b3talover
says...
3:52pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Is this Stephen Hawkins any relation to Professor Stephen Hawking the theoretical physicist?
b3talover
says...
4:02pm Mon 22 Oct 12
bobjones2011 wrote:You're right. I am highly offended by this behaviour. Just as I abhor racists, homophobes and bullies. I'm just a fluffy liberal at heart.
b3talover - Why are you wasting your time with this? When all is said and done, whether certain people (myself included) have pre-conceived ideas or beliefs about a large amount of benefit claimants or not, the probable fact remains that these pair are likely to survive on benefits. You can write a sarcastic reply from your soapbox if you wish; however I wouldn't mind placing a bet that I am right. I get the impression that you are highly offended by people sharing this view, and feel as though we are tarring all claimants with the same brush, but where did anyone state that all benefit claimants shoplift from Poundland? Also you should try not to judge a book by it's cover but I'm sorry, look at the photographs they really do look like the stereotypical benefit claiming idiots you see loitering ATMs at midnight on "Payday".
Anyway, thanks for writing a constructive reply. You're obviously an intelligent chap. Can we agree to disagree?
rhinestine
says...
4:07pm Mon 22 Oct 12
b3talover wrote:Had a tumble off the soap box have we??
You're right, I have never encountered the name Stephen Hawkins.
Is this Stephen Hawkins any relation to Professor Stephen Hawking the theoretical physicist?
bobjones2011
says...
4:09pm Mon 22 Oct 12
rhinestine
says...
4:23pm Mon 22 Oct 12
bobjones2011 wrote:well said Bob, I agree.....to disagree.....:)
b3talover - as I know you will be unable to change my mind, and I will be unable to change yours, I am more than happy to agree to disagree; infact it is refreshing to have a bit of healthy debate with somebody whilst retaining some mutual respect and ending it this way. All the best.
Llanmartinangel
says...
6:07pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Dolieboy
says...
6:08pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Strider
says...
6:31pm Mon 22 Oct 12
bladerunner
says...
8:16pm Mon 22 Oct 12
what classy girls
laughing when getting arrested says it all really?
ncfcr
says...
8:50pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Case closed.
chris227
says...
9:08pm Mon 22 Oct 12
chris227
says...
9:09pm Mon 22 Oct 12
chris227
says...
9:59pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Llanmartinangel
says...
10:03pm Mon 22 Oct 12
chris227
says...
10:40pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Major_Tom
says...
10:40pm Mon 22 Oct 12
chris227 wrote:"or a couple of highly paid fashion MODELS"
ALL STOP !! how do you lot know these two are on jsa/incap benefit they might be two high flying business ladies or 2 university lecturers or a couple of highly paid fashion models - you are all jumping the gun.
LMFAO
LaConArtiz
says...
3:27am Tue 23 Oct 12
Mudwolf
says...
6:03am Tue 23 Oct 12
b3talover wrote:ooops, terrible using someone as an example and spelling their name wrong!
You're right, I have never encountered the name Stephen Hawkins. Is this Stephen Hawkins any relation to Professor Stephen Hawking the theoretical physicist?
Cymru Am Beth
says...
9:59am Tue 23 Oct 12
spanner100 wrote:What about Flatholme or Steepholme?
Rub a Dub Scrub!!.Why not send this pair of "Scroats" to Prison.No small wonder honest Shoppers are paying over the odds for their shopping to cover losses due to Drug Addicts and the like.Wish we could ship them all off to some remote Islands and let them fester..
Gareth
says...
10:26am Tue 23 Oct 12
b3talover wrote:Now THAT made me smile. Horribly patronising and smug, but oh so warranted.
You're right, I have never encountered the name Stephen Hawkins.
Is this Stephen Hawkins any relation to Professor Stephen Hawking the theoretical physicist?
You didn't have a hand in Obama's "horses and bayonets" riposte to Romney last night, did you b3?
Llanmartinangel
says...
11:15am Tue 23 Oct 12
gordelpus
says...
7:15pm Tue 23 Oct 12
Welshgirl91
says...
9:27am Wed 24 Oct 12
emlma28
says...
12:28pm Wed 24 Oct 12
b3talover wrote:i know these two women...
Bobevans wrote:How do you know these people claim benefits? It's just a convenient assumption that you use to justify your right wing rants. You need to be careful associating individuals that claim benefits with thieves. Not all benefit claimants are thieves, drug dealers and the low life scum that you portray them to be. Many are well qualified individuals that have lost their jobs due to the recession. Your right wing villification of benefit claimants is very dangerous.
Whats the betting that this pair of wasters are not working and living on benefits. Making them do some work might help
i can confirm that they are indeed on benefits. The one in paticular hasnt worked a day in her life (im not 100% on the other).
You are right, i suppose not everyone on benefits are theives and drug takers but most drug takers and theives are on benefits which was the assumption that had been made here.
are you therefore defending people that are on benefits or are you trying to defend theives?
chris227
says...
10:00pm Wed 24 Oct 12
LatteKidAberG
says...
10:31pm Wed 24 Oct 12
They are a plague that has blighted Abergavenny for many years with all their other friends. I am sure that people from other towns and areas recognise the same waste of space scoungers as the rest of us.
Llanmartinangel
says...
12:11pm Thu 25 Oct 12
LatteKidAberG wrote:Well said. Odd that no 'fluffy Liberals' are coming to their support now. And don't feel bad about laughing at them and their height of fashion appearance, they've been laughing at the rest of us all their lives.
For everyones Info Both these women and i do use the term losely are on full benefits and have never done a days work in their lives. We the tax payer have paid to put large flat screen tv's etc on their walls and all the other luxuries that come with having no bills.
They are a plague that has blighted Abergavenny for many years with all their other friends. I am sure that people from other towns and areas recognise the same waste of space scoungers as the rest of us.
Dai the Milk
says...
12:32pm Thu 25 Oct 12
Bobevans
says...
10:21pm Thu 25 Oct 12
Llanmartinangel wrote:aH I new I had seen them somewhere
Oh and the phone call was to Jeremy Kyle
Bobevans
says...
10:24pm Thu 25 Oct 12
LatteKidAberG wrote:I was about 95% certain that would be the case. I am afraid it is not just Abergavenny that is blighted by these types. Unfortunatly no real action or punishment is ever handed out.
For everyones Info Both these women and i do use the term losely are on full benefits and have never done a days work in their lives. We the tax payer have paid to put large flat screen tv's etc on their walls and all the other luxuries that come with having no bills.
They are a plague that has blighted Abergavenny for many years with all their other friends. I am sure that people from other towns and areas recognise the same waste of space scoungers as the rest of us.
Getting this pair up at 7am and doing a days work would come as a terrible shock to them. I doubt it will ever happen though with our daft legal system which is more interested in punishing the victims of crime rather than the criminals
chris227
says...
11:09pm Thu 25 Oct 12
Llanmartinangel
says...
8:26am Fri 26 Oct 12
jameshargreaves
says...
11:15am Fri 26 Oct 12
STOP THEM SEEING EACH OTHER... CONTROL
Llanmartinangel
says...
12:41pm Fri 26 Oct 12
jameshargreaves wrote:And we care about them being controlled because???
TAKE THEIR BENEFITS OFF THEM ... FAIR.
STOP THEM SEEING EACH OTHER... CONTROL
Dai the Milk says...
7:47am Mon 22 Oct 12