Woman fined nearly £300 for stealing three bottles of baby milk

[gomgeg]

I don't know about this case, but in general no one with children in the UK is living in such poverty that they can't afford to feed them. If that were the case more people on low incomes would be shoplifting. But they don't because they prioritise their spending.

[Anna B]

I don't know about this case, but in general no one with children in the UK is living in such poverty that they can't afford to feed them. If that were the case more people on low incomes would be shoplifting. But they don't because they prioritise their spending.

 

The welfare system isn't infallible. It does make mistakes and lets people down sometimes. And sanctions create havoc, leaving people high and dry.

Edited August 19, 2015 by Anna B

[MintPlumbing]

Of course they can. No one said they couldnt.

 

There appears to be a suggestion that they shouldn't be punished.

[redfox]

You didn't know about this then? The new criminal courts charge -

 

See views of the magistrates association below - whose members are now resigning as a result of this - Note - there is no discretion- your means are irrelevant

 

 

https://magistrates-association.org.uk/news/ma-chairman-voices-concern-criminal-courts-charges-–-27-march-2015-0

[Timeh]

Or a politician, then she could have fiddled her expenses.

 

Very true.

 

---------- Post added 19-08-2015 at 18:31 ----------

 

There appears to be a suggestion that they shouldn't be punished.

 

No one is really saying that now are they.

[monkey104]

It was a bloke that was charged and there is no evidence the food was for a baby.

There was probably no cheese or steak left on the shelf to sell on in the boozer for his next fix.

[Mister M]

the welfare state is rather seperate from the justice system or are you too stupid to think the poor can commit a crime?

 

---------- Post added 19-08-2015 at 17:39 ----------

 

 

perhaps they can't afford baby milk because they but too many fags.

 

And perhaps if you opened your mind, and engaged with a wide variety of people; rather than sucking up tabloid filth then you'd know what you were talking about. Maybe then other people would take you seriously.

By the way your spelling is atrocious. You numpty.

[ANGELFIRE1]

Bottom line, thieving is wrong and should be punished. But the Judge should have used his brain (if he/her has one). Surely it's not beyond the law to understand that if some one is stealing baby food then they are going to be hard up, a fine of 300 notes is ridiculous, a fiver for each bottle would have been sufficient, £15 fine.

 

By the way it's a little ironic that many of the people making the laws are slightly bent themselves, just write EXPENSES and all is revealed.

 

Angel1.

[taxman]

Bottom line, thieving is wrong and should be punished. But the Judge should have used his brain (if he/her has one). Surely it's not beyond the law to understand that if some one is stealing baby food then they are going to be hard up, a fine of 300 notes is ridiculous, a fiver for each bottle would have been sufficient, £15 fine.

By the way it's a little ironic that many of the people making the laws are slightly bent themselves, just write EXPENSES and all is revealed.

 

Angel1.

 

But the new rule means they have to impose statutory costs, in this case £85. I've known a magistrate who complained that they weren't allowed to waive costs or give traveling expenses which meant she'd be seeing the same faces week in week out because they had to beg or steal to pay the fines they imposed. Self defeating. If someone is done for begging or shoplifting...a £300 fine just means they'll have to shoplift a bit harder.

[Ghostrider]

I am surprised that no one has picked up on this part of that article...

 

"It comes less than a week after the Independent reported a crowdfunding campaign had been set up to help a woman in Kidderminster pay court fines of nearly £330 for stealing a 75p pack of Mars Bars.

 

The fundraising page, which was set up by Stuart Campbell after he saw the original court report in the Kidderminster Shuttle, has now reached over £14,000 in less than a week."