TWO women who stole high value giftsets from a city centre store have been spared jail.

Catherine Walpole, of Goodison Road in Liverpool, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Tuesday, as did her co-accused Harriat Beveridge, of South Hill Road in Liverpool.

Both admitted that on October 23, they stole perfume and giftsets from Boots at Eagles Meadow, with Beveridge's stolen items worth some £1,230 and Walpole's worth £643.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court 25-year-old Beveridge entered the store first and selected a number of giftsets before leaving.

She then reattended with Walpole, the mother of her boyfriend whom the pair were 'in the area to visit at HMP Berwyn', and they took more items.

Alarms were set off as they left the scene and got into a waiting black Ford Fiesta.

The vehicle already had information and intelligence linking it to shoplifting incidents, and it was stopped on Chester Road.

All items were found and recovered.

Andrew Holliday, representing both defendants, said: "Ms Beveridge is the one who enters initially, but both parties go in.

"Ms Walpole has no previous convictions for theft since 1995 and she was in North Wales because her son is currently in HMP Berwyn, so when they came to visit him her co-accused decided to commit theft.

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"When you see Ms Beveridge's previous convictions, she's clearly the main driver of the offences.

"She made full admissions in interview."

Mr Holliday said Beveridge also disputed she'd come to the area specifically to steal, reiterating her co-accused's explanation that she had come to "visit her boyfriend in Berwyn."

Speaking first to Walpole, District Judge Gwyn Jones said: "I have viewed the video of the time you spent in the store - a significant amount of items were taken.

"This was a professional attempt to steal high value goods, no doubt for the 'alternative' Christmas market."

Walpole received an eight week custodial sentence, but it was suspended for a year.

She must pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

Turning to Beveridge, the District Judge said: "I saw you scour the store [on the CCTV].

"You picked up high value items and walked out of the store as cool as a cucumber.

"That tells me you gave some thought to what would happen.

The Leader:

"No doubt you may not be welcome in many of your local stores because of your criminal record - this is your third court appearance since February 2023."

Beveridge received a 12 week custodial term, but it was suspended for a year.

She must pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.