Gloucester kleptomaniac banned after £4k shoplifting spree

A woman diagnosed as a kleptomaniac has been banned from every retail premises in a county as a result of her latest £4,000 shoplifting spree.

Lisa Dalby, 48, of Stow Close, Gloucester, admitted to a series of thefts in Gloucester and Cheltenham.

Dalby was sentenced at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on Monday.

She was handed an 18-month community order and a three year criminal behaviour order which bars her from entering most shops in the county.

Dalby will only be allowed to enter one supermarket, one pharmacy and a post office.

Prosecutor Sadie Waits said Dalby's offending began on 2 March this year when she went to The Range in Cheltenham.

Dalby admitted using threatening or racially abusive words and behaviour towards Rohan Dennis, a loss prevention officer at the Range on 2 March, 2023.

She also admitted assaulting The Range store manager Joanne Evans by beating on 2 March 2023.

She was found to be responsible for the theft of items from The Range valued at £281, which included an air fryer, a vacuum cleaner and a number of small items.

The prosecutor said Dalby's second theft was on 9 September 2023 at the Boots store in Cheltenham when she selected a Philips electric shaver, valued at £310, from which she removed the security tag.

The court was told that Dalby was also caught stealing a baby buggy to the value of £269.99 from Aldi on 28 April, 2023 and then stealing a pressure washer and items of fresh meat, valued at £586.84 from the same Aldi store.

The court also heard that Dalby was responsible for the theft of cleaning products and toiletries to the value of £23.70 belonging to One Stop shop on 14 July and on the same day, she stole bandages and medication to the value of £60 belonging to Badhams Pharmacy in Cheltenham.

Clive Powell, the Presiding Justice, said: "Dalby's spree of thefts is on a commercial scale and amounts to some £4,000 in total value."

Clare Buckley defending said: "Dalby has been diagnosed with kleptomania and she manages her urges quite well most of the time.

"But when she is mentally unwell she is unable to control this illness and this was the case for her recent offending.

The magistrates ordered that Dalby pay compensation of £65 to Ms Evans and £50 to Mr Dennis and attend 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days as well as undergoing mental health treatment for the duration of the order.

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