A PROLIFIC Carlisle shoplifter is back behind bars after a spate of new thefts were committed as her life went off the rails.

Corrina Kirkpatrick, 33, struck at five different city stores on eight different dates in June, July and August this year.

At the time, Kirkpatrick was subject to a 100-day suspended prison sentence which was handed to her by magistrates in March for similar previous offending.

Carlisle Crown Court heard on Monday that Kirkpatrick stole from Heron Foods’ city centre premises on four separate occasions. There were also illegal visits to B&M Bargains, Co-op shops at Denton Street and Blackwell Road, and also Waterstones.

On the evening of July 30, at Heron Foods, Kirkpatrick was seen by a manager to be one of a four-strong shoplifting group who targeted high value items in one area of the store.

“All four were taking food from the chiller section, putting it into bags and doing it in a way which is described as frantic,” said the court prosecutor.

“(The manager) went to the front of the store to stop them but wasn’t able to detain them.”

Kirkpatrick stole goods including meat, dairy products, a shopping basket and even bird seed which had a total value of around £500.

“It is captured on CCTV,” the prosecutor said of many recent crimes, with staff having identified her at other times in the wake of past incidents. “She is described as a prolific shoplifter.”

Kirkpatrick had 104 crimes to her name — the majority for similar offending.

Barrister Kim Whittlestone, mitigating, said Kirkpatrick’s life had gone “off the rails” amid chaotic personal circumstances and negative influences.

As a result she had succumbed to anxiety and depression, turning to street drugs rather than prescribed methadone, and stealing to fund her addiction.

Of Kirkpatrick’s persistent shoplifting, Miss Whittlestone said: “She fully understands it causes a great deal of stress and loss to companies in the local area who are trying to run their businesses.”

Since being remanded in custody, Kirkpatrick, of Close Street, Carlisle, had engaged with help in a bid to put her life back on track.

Judge Michael Fanning imposed an immediate seven-month jail term and activated the previous 100-day suspended term, to run consecutively.

Judge Fanning said he was reluctant to imprison young women, given that there was a greater stigma attached to females being sent to custody than men.

But in view of Kirkpatrick’s persistent thieving, the judge said of city shop staff: “These people need a break from you.

"They don’t need to go to work anxious that you are going to steal at will.”