Hapless Fareham woman jailed after she spills her stolen goods in front of police

Hapless Maxine Anthony, of Gosport Road in Fareham, was caught red-handed trying the flee from the Morrisons store in Gosport High Street with £35 of goods.

Police had been in the shop on an unrelated matter when they stopped the 29-year-old after she was confronted by store security, on Sunday afternoon.

Despite being caught, the brazen thief refused to admit to her crime, police said.

PC Jonathan Needham said: ‘A security guard asked her for receipts, but she denied having any “shopping” even as stolen items were falling out on to the floor. Maxine Anthony is a prolific thief and was arrested at the scene.’

Anthony appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where she was jailed for 28 days.

She was already subject to a conditional discharge having committed similar offences in the past, police added.