A British contract worker was given a conditional discharge in Magistrates? Court after she admitted to shoplifting from Trimingham?s.

Nichola Buchan, 38, of Government Hill Road, St. George?s, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to shoplifting items with a value of $487 from a Trimingham Brothers store on February 6, 2004.

Crown counsel Shakira Dill said Buchan entered the shop and was seen taking a black Burberry sweater valued at $295 and a blouse costing $192 into the changing rooms.

She left the changing rooms without the items and left the store but was soon stopped and questioned by Trimingham?s staff.

?The defendant is a UK national contract worker,? Ms Dill said.

Buchan apologised and said she returned the items and offered her services to Trimingham?s for free to make amends.

She said she did not consider the consequences of her actions and had been in Bermuda four years.

When Mr. Warner asked what stealing $487 had cost her, Buchan said it ?ruined my life, Sir?.

She added that she was seeing a doctor for clinical depression.

?I am satisfied the defendant is contrite and shows remorse,? Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said. ?The amount stolen was small and has been recovered.

?Bearing in mind all the circumstances, it is my view that it is not necessary or advantageous to either the defendant or the Crown to impose a criminal conviction in the circumstances. A conditional discharge for one year is an appropriate sentence in all circumstances.?