Mum jailed over £10 jeans theft

omg the jeans were only ten pounds she doesnt deserve to go to prison people have done worse and their sentences have been rubbish

After reading the comments, I may aswell put in my two pennies worth. What this woman did was wrong, any fool can see that and I would be very suprised if she didn't know that herself. However, for a woman with a three year old child who stole a pair of jeans worth £10, that were probably fit for resale, to be sentenced to three months in prison is an atrocity. What makes it worse is that £20,000 of taxpayers money is going straight down the pan over something as petty as this. That £20,000 could be spent on something far more worthwhile for the community rathe than something as silly as this. People who commit far more serious crimes get off very lightly compared to Ms. Hewitt's sentence, and this is a disgrace. There should be consistency within the justice system. I do 't see any. We also don't know this woman's circumstances. Desperate times lead people to do desperate things. While yes, she should have pleaded guilty at first opportunity it may not have entirely been down to Ms. Hewitt. People can become greedy, and her legal team may have pushed her to take the case further in order to get more money. After all, it won't be them going to jail, will it? Ms. Hewitt should have been ordered to do community service, or probation at the very least. Of course no crime should be allowed to go unpunished, but is a young child without a mother for three months and £20,000 of taxpayers money squandered on this really neccessary to carry out 'justice'? I don't think so.

I have absolutely no sympathy for this woman. People break the law in the hope that they won't get caught. Fortunately she was apprehended. Perhaps she should have considered the consequences and the effect on her daughter before she chose to steal, no one made her do it, it was her choice. What message would it send out to those who steal on a daily basis if they thought that they would't get prosecuted. As others have commented she had the choice to plead guilty at the Magistrates Court - she didn't. It was her choice, either on her own or with the advices of her solicitor to opt for a jury trial. She also had the chance to plead guilty at her arraignment in the Crown Court - she again chose not to. Perhaps she thought that she would get a sympathetic jury who would find her not guilty. Thankfully the jury made the correct decision based on the evidence given in court. Her legal team would have told her what sentence she would have expected to receive in the Magistrates Court, where she could have had a contested hearing, or in the Crown Court. Her legal team would also be very well aware that those who plead guilty at the earliest opportunity receive substantially lighter sentences than those who elect for a jury trial. The only winner here is her solicitor's firm and the barrister, who no doubt enjoy submitting their rather large bills to the Legal Services Commission. Don't forget for the 5 day trial there was the Judges time, court staff, prosecution and defence teams and not forgetting the 12 members of the public sitting on the jury who no doubt would have preferred being at home or at work than sitting in a court room. Judge Grant is a very experienced and respected Judge, he could have sentenced her to a longer term in prison. The 3 months everyone is talking about would have been reduced to 6 weeks for good behaviour. All these do gooders really annoy me who cry foul when they get a chance to attack our legal system, the same system who acquit people charged with very serious offences due to a minor flaw in the evidence or procedures. This woman is a thief - nothing more than a common criminal. Maybe she will think twice before doing it again. Others should sit up and take note.

The legal system in this country allows the criminal to choose to have their case heard in the crown court. Defence barristers take matters like this to the crown court to earn more money, had it been dealt with in the magistrates court she would probably have got a rap on the knuckles. It is not the polices fault or the courts fault, it is primarily this ladies fault for stealing in the first place and secondly her legal teams fault for pursuing the matter to the crown court ( most likely on legal aid ) in order to make more money.

I think it's an absolute disgrace. The justice system is a mess. It costs more to put her in jail. The clear must be deprived they could have give her community service. Or something I do feel it was wrong that she stole but that sentence is harsh. She has a young child. Makes me sick. Individuals that carry out serious offended don't get 3 months!