A shoplifting couple who stole more than £4,000 worth of food from Sunderland stores have been jailed after repeatedly ignoring chances to stay out of prison.

The partners in love and crime – Gemma McCabe, 38, and Steven Leach, 37, of St Luke’s Road in Pennywell – appeared before magistrates in South Tyneside on Monday.

Their pair carried out 31 thefts between them from Asda and Co-op stores over just three months, with Leach striking again within hours of being granted bail.

McCabe also carried out one theft in June just a day after a court took pity on her and allowed her to walk free with a suspended 12-week jail sentence.

The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates Court.

placeholder image — The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates Court.

She committed a further five thefts while that same threat of prison hung over her – and was responsible for another eight before it was imposed.

In total, she pleaded guilty to 14 counts of theft from a shop, one jointly with Leach – with £1,135 taken from the Co-op and £700 from Asda – and was jailed for a total of 24 weeks.

Magistrates heard Leach committed 18 thefts, with the joint offence with McCabe happening just hours after he was granted bail by a judge on the other 17 on Saturday, July 18.

The judge barred him from entering any retail premises, but he teamed up with McCabe to instead steal £44 worth of food from Asda in The Broadway, High Barnes, later that day.

His crimes saw him bag a total of £2,309 of stock and he offended while subject to a crown court-imposed two-year suspended prison sentence, also believed to be for thefts.

Leach has now been remanded into custody ahead of being sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, August 17.

Prosecutor Glenda Beck said of McCabe: “It’s primarily foodstuffs that are taken – chocolate, cheese and meat items.

“She has 30 thefts or kindred on her record and is subject to that suspended sentence order.

“The starting point is for the activation of that suspended sentence, unless it is unjust to do so.”

And of Leach, she added: “He appeared in custody at the Saturday remand court for 17 offences that are before us now.

“The case couldn’t be concluded on Saturday, and he was granted conditional bail. He was not to enter any retail premises.

“After being released on Saturday, he goes to a retail premises and commits an offence.”

Paul McAlindon, representing both defendants, said McCabe had suffered recent personal trauma that had led her into a spiral of drugs and alcohol.

He added: “Six of her offences put her in breach of her suspended sentence, the others pre-date it.

“In 2024 she was bereaved. She has a drink and drug lifestyle. She will, by her own admission, go out to steal when her money runs out.

“She was given a chance by the court in June. There’s still a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”

Mr McAlindon said of Leach: “There are 18 theft offences which are in breach of the crown court suspended sentence.

“He fully understands the position he has placed himself.”

After remanding Leach into custody, magistrates activated McCabe’s 12-week suspended sentence in full. They also jailed her for 12 consecutive weeks for one of her 14 thefts, with no separate penalty for the other 13.