A WOMAN who went on a family shoplifting outing stealing toys and groceries from an Ilminster supermarket stashed the stolen items in her child’s pushchair.

Security staff at the Tesco store spotted Annie Rose Tough hiding the items in the pushchair hood and moving a blanket to conceal them.

When she was challenged as she left the shop she repeatedly claimed she had done nothing wrong until her husband told her “just give it to them”.

During interview with the police she said that it was “hard times” and she could not afford to buy the things for her children.

Two months later she stole hundreds of pounds worth of nail products and also helped herself to some candles from a shop in Yeovil.

Tough, 31, of Owsley Cottages, Shepton Beauchamp, pleaded guilty to stealing various items worth £47.78 from Tesco in Ilminster on June 25 and the theft of £209.96 worth of nail products from Sally Salon Supplies in Yeovil on August 19.

She also asked for the theft of candles worth £36.97 belonging to Beales in Yeovil to be taken into consideration when she appeared before Somerset Magistrates.

Lucy Coleman, prosecuting, said that Tough was in Tesco with her husband and children pushing a pushchair and she then removed eight items from the shelves and put them in the pushchair basket and hood and moved a blanket to conceal some of them.

“Her husband bought some items but Tough pushed the pushchair past the payment point and was confronted after leaving the store,” she said.

“She said she had done nothing wrong and kept repeating this until her husband said “just give it to them”.

“She removed a baby’s bottle and then two toys and other items were recovered.”

Whilst awaiting the arrival of the police Tough said that she did it because she had forgotten her baby’s bottle and he wanted a drink and said her daughter wanted some toys.

She added that some ham and cheese that was recovered was to feed her family adding that it was hard times and she could not afford to buy the items.

On August 19 Tough went to Sally Salon Supplies in Yeovil and was seen to select various nail items and conceal them in a bag that was in her child’s pushchair.

“She made enquiries at the till but left without paying for the items and when arrested and interviewed admitted stealing the goods but could not give a reason why,” said Miss Coleman.

“She said she was embarrassed by her actions and also admitted the theft of some candles from Beales in Yeovil.”

Defending, Greg Peters said Tough suffered from bipolar disorder and was on a “plethora” of medication which sometimes led to her getting muddled.

He said: “During her interview she said she was on medication which sometimes put her in a daze and half the time she said she does not know what she is doing.

“However she accepts culpability for these offences and is deeply upset, remorseful and ashamed of her actions.

“She cannot really offer any explanation and does not regularly appear in court.”

He added that she felt so ashamed after stealing the nail products that she duped them in a bin and did not even keep them.

The magistrates told Tough she had been setting a bad example for her children by taking them with her while committing the offences.

Magistrates gave Tough a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay a total amount of £265.35 compensation along with a £180 court charge and £15 victim surcharge.

Tough was not ordered to pay costs.