A WOMAN who was caught on CCTV stealing several hundred pounds worth of booze from a Crewkerne supermarket confessed to police she needed the money for drugs.

Lesley Ann Moir was seen stashing bottles of alcohol into a bag before leaving the Waitrose store without paying for any of them.

Moir, 33, of Longfleet Road, Poole, pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol valued at £200 from Waitrose in South Street, Crewkerne on December 27 last year when she appeared before the court at Yeovil. Two further allegations of shoplifting from the same store were withdrawn by the prosecution.

She was identified by security officers from CCTV, and when she was arrested and interviewed, she admitted it was her.

“She put them directly into a bag giving the impression that she had scanned them and then left without paying,” he said.

“She was not detained at the scene, but later the security officer identified the defendant from CCTV and when she was arrested and interviewed she admitted it was her.

“She said she had a drug problem and said she sold the alcohol as she needed the money for drugs.”

He added that Moir had a long list of previous convictions for dishonesty and was currently on a suspended prison sentence for offences that post dated this offence and therefore was not relevant.

Defending solicitor Ray Peters said that Moir made full admissions to the police at the outset.

The magistrates ordered the defendant to pay compensation of £200 to Waitrose as punishment for the offence.