A woman who wheeled a 42-in television screen out of a busy Aldi store without paying for it has been jailed for eight months.
Mary Ann Jackson (35), Clarina Court, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, sold the wide-screen television on within 15 minutes of stealing it, Limerick District Court was told yesterday.
Jackson, who has 36 previous convictions, mostly for theft-related offences, pleaded guilty to stealing the television from the Aldi store, Childers Road, Limerick, on July 18th last.
The court heard that following her arrest, Jackson admitted to gardaí that she had stolen the television worth €1,200 and explained how she had sold it on 15 minutes later.
Judge Tom O'Donnell said he had to take the view that Jackson was a "professional shoplifter" and noted that the television was never recovered. She had continued to commit offences despite having served prison terms.