A 26-year-old Exeter woman has admitted to stealing items from a Morrisons store and assaulting a member of staff who tried to stop her.
Molly Pugsley, of Lanepark Close, Exeter, pleaded guilty to shoplifting and assault by beating at Exeter Magistrates’ Court.
The offences took place on October 16 last year at the Morrisons Daily store on Pinhoe Road. The court heard Pugsley is known to staff as a prolific shoplifter. She was seen leaving the shop with three boxes of soap powder worth £15 and a bunch of flowers also worth £15.
When a staff member challenged her, Pugsley pushed him, causing her to drop the flowers. A victim impact statement said incidents of this nature were “a daily occurrence” and that the employee “just wants to focus on the customers”.
In mitigation, Mr Seigne said Pugsley struggles with her mental health and has “a little bit of an offending history”, particularly relating to shoplifting.
Magistrates told her: “You have been here before, you know what the process is.” The case was adjourned until May 14 for a pre-sentence report.
This story was produced via the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Criminal Justice Court Reporting scheme.
