A woman has pleaded guilty to stealing more than £4,000 worth of cuddly toys from garden centres whilst using children as cover for her crimes.
Ruby Smith, 35, from Suffolk, admitted to seven charges of theft when she appeared before Norwich Magistrates’ Court.
Prosecutor Rima Begum told the court that Smith entered various garden centres in Norfolk with children and concealed items in prams or handed them to children before leaving without paying.
The thefts, of Jellycat soft toys, are part of a wider brand-specific crime wave across the UK, with the popular toys selling for between £14 and £200.
Smith entered various garden centres in Norfolk with children and concealed items in prams or handed them to children before leaving without paying
GROVES NURSERIES AND GARDEN CENTRES
Smith carried out three major raids at Bressingham Garden Centre near Diss, Norfolk, stealing a haul of Jellycat animals worth £1,600 on July 20.
Just weeks later, she returned to steal another £1,679 worth of toys, followed by a third theft worth £512.
The shoplifter also targeted Wroxham Barns gift shop in Hoveton twice, taking Jellycat toys valued at £194 on August 6 and £136 on August 31.
Thetford Garden Centre was hit twice by Smith’s thievery, with toys worth £58 stolen on September 23 and an unknown quantity taken on September 9.
Defence lawyer Andy Spence told the court there was “no justification for any thefts” but explained Smith had been facing significant financial pressure at the time.
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Smith admitted to seven charges of theft at Norwich Magistrates’ Court
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The court heard how Smith and her partner had been forced to leave their previous rented accommodation because their landlady wanted to sell the property.
“The pressures led Miss Smith into a position where she felt desperate and acted in desperation,” Spence said.
He added that Smith was “genuinely remorseful” and acknowledged she had “went about things the wrong way, putting her liberty and her family’s welfare at risk.”
Presiding magistrate Samantha Tisshaw adjourned Smith’s sentencing until February 17 to allow for an “all options” pre-sentencing report.
Smith was released on bail with strict conditions, including being banned from entering Norfolk except for specific purposes.
She is only permitted to visit Morrisons in Diss, attend medical appointments, meet with her lawyer, or attend court and probation service meetings.
The defence lawyer noted that Smith, described as “a prolific offender when young,” had put herself in a position where custody was “clearly a risk.”
Garden centres across the country have reported similar Jellycat thefts in recent months.
Charlie Groves, owner of Groveves Nurseries in Bridport, Dorset, lost £400 worth of the toys in October when a woman was caught on CCTV stuffing dolls into a pram.
In a separate case, Robert Thornton, 42, was jailed for 21 months at Teeside Crown Court last August after using a sledgehammer to steal nine Jellycat teddies from an art shop in Darlington.
And North Yorkshire Police also recently traced a suspect following Jellycat thefts from Barkers department store in Northallerton.
