Derry woman remanded for theft of over £650 of retail goods


Woman faces two counts of theft after allegedly filling bags with beauty products and household items.
A woman has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court charged with two counts of theft.
Mary Stokes (38) of Clon Elagh in Derry was charged with stealing £568.98 worth of beauty products from Bradley's Chemist on April 12 this year and stealing £91.66 worth of items from Home Bargains on March 3.
In regards to the April case, police were shown CCTV footage of two females, one of which they say is Stokes, entering the premises, walking around and putting a number of items into a bag.
On March 3, police were attending Home Bargains about a different matter and allegedly saw footage of Stokes and two other women entering the shop and Stokes 'almost immediately' putting items into a bag for life.
She was arrested on June 15 and gave a no comment interview when questioned.
Later, while still under caution, she is alleged to have said 'I swear on Tommy's life' that the other woman didn't know she was stealing the items from the chemist.
Police objected to bail as she has thirty previous convictions for theft.
Defence solicitor Oliver Roche questioned the identification of the CCTV citing potential issues with the video footage.
Bail was refused and she will appear again on July 9.
