Worthing shoplifter Katie Everson jailed for thefts

Katie Everson was given a suspended sentence for stealing from shops across Worthing, Lancing and Shoreham in the autumn.

But the 35-year-old was back in court for eight more offences committed at stores in the area.

It included raids at Tesco, Boots, Co-op store and Marks and Spencer.

In a previous spate of thefts Everson took £1,300 worth of property, although £500 was recovered.

The Argus reported that she was jailed for 18 weeks in August 2019 for attacking police in custody after being arrested for stealing £400 worth of perfume from Boots in Worthing.

Worthing shop thief Katie Everson has bee jailed

Everson appeared at Lewes Crown Court for sentencing after she admitted eight more shop thefts, in breach of a suspended sentence for similar crimes.

Jonathan Atkinson, prosecuting, revealed she had again committed crimes despite being given a chance to reform her behaviour.

Andrew Turton, defending, said Everson had been held on remand in prison for 10 weeks prior to her suspended sentence and had cut her drug taking.

But Judge Martin Huseyin said: “This is persistent shoplifting, targeting the same shops over and over again.”

He told Everson, of Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, that her previous efforts to get drug free in custody showed she had made an effort to change.

The judge jailed her for a total of eight months.

PC David Broome of the Worthing Response team said: "We are pleased with the sentence the court have given to Katie Everson in relation to an extensive number of theft – shopliftings across Worthing.

"It sends a clear message that criminality will not be accepted in Worthing and we will work rigorously alongside our community to bring offenders to justice."