Highcliffe offender Madeleine Pankhurst jailed for 10 weeks for shopliftings, abuse and cocaine possession during suspended sentence

SHOPLIFTING nearly £300 of goods, hurling abuse and possessing cocaine during a suspended sentence landed a Highcliffe woman with 10 weeks in prison.

Madeleine Pankhurst (53), of Lymington Road, admitted stealing supplements valued at £120 from Holland & Barrett at Saxon Square in Christchurch on 12th April.

She also pleaded guilty to taking health and beauty products worth a total £175 from Boots in Bournemouth on 2nd February and 2nd July.

As well as these thefts, the defendant admitted a charge of possessing a class A drug at a Bournemouth address on 4th September; and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour towards a woman in the town on 27th August.

Sending Pankhurst behind bars, Poole magistrates ruled only custody could be justified due to the seriousness of the offences. The Bench noted the offences were committed during a suspended sentence.

The defendant was also ordered to pay £154 compensation to the abuse victim, and forfeit the cocaine for destruction.