A “PROLIFIC” Barry shoplifter has been jailed for 12 months.

Katie Louise Taylor, 21, was described as having a “very unattractive” criminal record as she appeared at Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing last Friday (February 1).

In her defence Taylor said: “I’m not a burglar, I’m a shoplifter” as she initially pleaded guilty to all of the charges, apart from burglary, Taylor, of Holton Road, later pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, eight counts of theft and one count of breaching a community order.

Nicola Harris, prosecuting, told the court that on September 3 last year the defendant entered Tesco on Holton Road and stole two bottles of Stella Artois, before stealing alcohol and foodstuffs from Home Bargains on September 19.

The court heard that after September 19 she was released on bail and committed further shoplifting offences, including stealing two bottles of wine from Iceland, 21 items of clothing to the value of £161 from Sports Direct at Talbot Green shopping centre, cosmetics from Boots in Barry and two bottles of vodka and eight cans of cider from the One Stop Shop in Barry. The court also heard that Taylor, along with her sister, had burgled a property in Holton Road and had stolen a television and Xbox. Upon being disturbed by a concerned neighbour, who had heard “female voices coming from the flat” as well as “loud banging and doors slamming”.

Taylor said she was ‘trying to set up a surround sound and cinema system and the owner was asleep in his bed’.

When the owner returned to their house they found the front door wide open and discovered that items had been taken.

Claire Wilks, in mitigation, said that Taylor had had a “very disrupted childhood” and had spent time in “a variety of foster and care homes”.

She added: “The defendant began to take drugs, alcohol, heroin and cannabis.

“She also became involved in a disastrous relationship with a heroin addict older than her.”

She added that Taylor, who had been in custody since the middle of December, had attempted to rehabilitate herself.

“She has already spent her time in custody very usefully indeed.

“She is trying to give herself the best possible chance when she is released to live an offending- free lifestyle.”

The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Eleri Rees, said: “Of these offences the burglary of the dwelling is the most serious.

“To be burgled is more than an invasion of someone’s privacy, it affects their confidence and has long-lasting effects with people, as they can’t sleep at night and feel unsafe in their own homes.

“When you become a prolific shoplifter there are still victims, as prices go up because people steal so many goods.

“You now have a very unattractive criminal record for a young woman.”

She said: “You are still young and there is no reason why you shouldn’t come out and make substantial effort and make something of your life.”

Taylor was sentenced to eight months for burglary, two months in relation to thefts and two months for breaching a community order, with all sentences to run consecutively.

Taylor will spend the second half of her sentence on licence.