A prolific shoplifter has failed in a bid to have the length of a recently-imposed prison sentence reduced on appeal.

Magistrates sitting at Newton Aycliffe on November 17 passed a total sentence of 35 weeks’ imprisonment on Kelly Traynor after she admitted eight theft charges, plus a further count of failing to surrender, following her failure to attend a previous hearing.

Her sentence was made up of eight separate four-week sentences for each theft offence, plus an added three weeks for the failure to attend court, all to be served consecutively.

The 33-year-old defendant, of Pine Street, Grange Villa, appealed against the length of the imprisonment at a Durham Crown Court, at which her counsel, Shada Mellor, argued against the totality of the sentence.

Traynor appeared via video link from Low Newton Women’s Prison, near Durham, where she is serving her sentence.

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The court was told the items stolen include alcohol, vapes and paint while the final offence, in which she took £76.68 worth of washing pods from a Wilko store, was committed while she was on bail.

Following deliberation, Judge Jo Kidd, who was sitting with two magistrates, said: “It’s clear to us that when Miss Traynor sets out to shoplift it’s pre-planned and targets items with a higher re-sale value.

“It’s not stealing items for her own nutrition or needs.

“She has set out that this spate of offending was motivated by her narcotic addiction after her release from her last sentence.

“She pre-plans her shop thefts and takes calculated risks to feed her drug habit, suggesting that arrests are an occupational habit.

“We have looked at her list of previous sentences and numerous occasions she has been given opportunity after opportunity to engage in help and assistance targeting her drug addiction and difficult like experiences.

“They have had no impact whatsoever given her rate of re-offending.

“Although she was not on licence at the time, her last offence was committed while on bail.

“We see absolutely no evidence of any deterrence having an impact on her offending.”

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Judge Kidd said she and the two JPs hearing the appeal agreed with the magistrates that the defendant's situation was “gravely aggravated” by her antecedent history, the fact there was an offence committed while on bail, plus her failure to attend court for a hearing.

The judge said for those reasons the appeal was rejected and the original sentence passed by the magistrates remains in place.

Jonathan Gittins, for the prosecution, said, given that the defendant now remains in custody, there would be no costs application by the Crown.

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