Reformed Washington woman turned to crime again following mum's death
A prolific shoplifter returned to crime after five years on the straight – stealing Lego sets following the death of her mum, a court heard.
Sara Copeland, 40, who has 95 theft offences among 134 crimes on her record, targeted the same Smyths Toys store twice in two days before being caught on her second visit.
Copeland, of Chillingham Close, Teal Farm, Washington, only turned to crime again after suffering mental health woes following her mum's death, her solicitor told South Tyneside magistrates.
Otherwise, the once serial offender had been on the straight and narrow since 2020.
She entered the retailer’s Hylton Riverside Park outlet at Castletown, Sunderland, on Wednesday, January 21, prosecutor Syed Ali revealed.
During her visit, she concealed Lego sets, valued at £182, and slipped out unseen by security.
But she came unstuck two days later when she attempted to repeat the trick and was stopped.
Mr Ali said: “On January 21, she entered the store and selected various Lego sets.
“She was seen on CCTV footage carrying them and then concealing them. She went past the last pay point without paying.
“She then returned and selected Lego sets valued at £230 and again concealed them and attempted to leave.
“She was confronted by store staff and the goods were recovered from her and police were contacted.”
Copeland, whose criminal offences stem from 68 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to one count each of theft from a shop and attempted theft.
Chris Wilson, defending, said: “The background that gives rise to this offence was that her mother died in 2025, and she then struggled with her mental health.
“She does have an antecedent history but has been offence-free since August 2020 to January, and has been leading a law-abiding lifestyle.
“She had previously been before the region’s courts regularly or even daily. She had struggled with drug addiction.
“If her mother hadn’t died, she wouldn’t have committed these offences. She doesn’t wish to be attending this court for offences like this.
“She accepts she went off the rails and was struggling with her mental health.
“She’s not using drugs and is looking forward to a future where she doesn’t come before the court.”
Magistrates ordered Copeland to pay compensation to Smyths Toys of £182. There were no court costs.