A woman who stole alcohol from Aldi, Londis and an Esso garage has now given up drinking, a court heard.

Leann Macguire, from Deal, had never been in trouble with the law before when she decided she would start stealing from shops last year.

She first went into the Aldi store in Cheery Tree Avenue, in Dover, on June 20, and pilfered two packs of four beers and one packet of Lentil Chips.

About a month later the 28-year-old walked into Marks & Spencer at the town’s St James retail park and picked up five joints of meat valued at £56.16 and left the store without making an attempt to pay at the tills.

Then on October 1, she walked into a Londis store in Dover and took rice and beer.

Just over a month later, on November 8, she stole booze and food worth £42 from an Esso garage in Deal.

Macguire, of St Martins Road, was later identified and charged with four counts of shoplifting.

She admitted all the offences when she appeared in the dock at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on February 8.

District Judge William Nelson heard Macguire had never been before the courts before and that, in total, she had stolen £120.90 worth of items from the four stores.

Alan Balneaves, prosecuting, said: “She has no previous convictions and this is out of character.”

Hugh Roberts, defending, said his client had now given up alcohol but did have some issues and was on benefits.

Judge Nelson placed Macguire on an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered she pay back £120.90 compensation for the goods she stole.