A SERIAL shoplifter who stole over £3,000 worth of goods from a high-end supermarket had recently discovered a lump, her solicitor said.

Lindsay Thompson, 39, entered Booths in Keswick on September 23 and placed items into a trolley.

She then went to the scratch card kiosk, bought a scratch card and left the store without paying for the items, which were valued at £599.50, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

On October 1 she entered the store again, bought a scratch card and left the store making no attempt to pay for the items in her trolley. She stole £1171.40 worth of goods.

Thompson then stole £787.90 worth of items from the store on October 15 and stole £684.80 worth of goods on November 4.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said the defendant then committed a further offence on December 6. She entered Superdrug in Workington, took some cosmetic gift sets worth £66 and removed the security tags from them.

Thompson then placed the items into a bag and left. She was in breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order by entering the store.

The defendant committed further offences in Matalan in Workington on January 3 and January 8 when she stole baby clothes worth a total of £120.

Thompson, of Firth View Walk, Workington, pleaded guilty to seven charges of theft from a shop and one charge of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order.

Mike Woolaghan, defending, said Thompson had engaged well with the probation service, attending all appointments and working with multiple agencies.

He told the court: “The detection of a lump in her breast saw a marked deterioration in her mental health. Her response to that bad news was inappropriate.”

The case was sent to Carlisle Crown Court for sentence on February 12. Thompson was granted unconditional bail.