A young woman chose nearly a year in prison rather than deal with her addiction through the Welfare and Probation Service (WPS ) after being convicted in the District Court this week (September 23 ) of just €10 worth of shoplifting.
In front of Judge John Neilan was Natasha Ring (22 ), with an address at Thornbury Drive, Willow Park, Athlone, who pleaded guilty to the theft of €10 of clothes from a shop in Irishtown on September 7.
When her previous convictions were made known to the court, it transpired Ring had a number for theft, and had already served three months in prison earlier this year for stealing a prescription pad.
“How the businesses in Athlone can accommodate all the shoplifters is beyond me,” said the judge.
He sentenced her to 11 months in prison but adjourned its application until December 16 to allow her engage with the WPS in the interim.
The judge was explaining he was doing this to allow Ring a chance to get back on her feet, with the threat of a Christmas in prison hanging over her, but Ring declined this offer, saying she felt she got better treatment in prison.
The judge acccommodated this and sent her down for 11 months.
“I recommend the defendant be treated for her heroin addiction in prison,” he ordered.
