Alexandria Co-op had cleaning good stolen by woman in 'desperate bid'

Toni McCourt entered the Co-op on Mitchell Way in Alexandria on November 16 last year and stole items worth £150, Dumbarton Sheriff Court was told.

An employee at the store noticed McCourt try to leave with her basket of items without paying, and tried to take it back, but without success.

Fiscal depute Daisy Bentley told the June 7 hearing: "The accused went to the locus wearing a grey coat. She picked up a basket, went to various aisles and placed items in it, before exiting the store with a full basket."

Ms Benltey said the employee who tried to take the basket back told McCourt he would call police, to which the 34-year-old replied: "I don't give a f***'.

McCourt then went to her car and drove off with the stolen goods - a blender, alcohol, rubber gloves and dishwashing items.

According to court papers McCourt committed the theft while she was on bail for four separate offences, having been granted bail at Glasgow Sheriff Court in July, August and twice in September.

McCourt's solicitor said her client had nearly completed the unpaid work element of a community payback order imposed for a previous offence.

She told Sheriff John Hamilton: "She has 17 hours left of the hours that were imposed and she hopes to complete those this week.

"It is quite early days in respect of the supervision element.

"There are clearly ongoing issues with her mental health given the number of charges I've been able to add up over the past few years. 

"It is a matter of regret. It is a very desperate situation to be in."

Previously our sister paper The Glasgow Times reported how on September 22, 2019 McCourt, of Baldovan Court, Glasgow, tried to run away with more than £120 worth of stock from TK Maxx in Glasgow Fort after the store's security alarms went off when she was leaving.

Sheriff John Hamilton added an extra 80 hours of unpaid work to the existing order, which McCourt must complete within six months.