A mother of seven children stole socks, pyjamas and a sweater because she was in “dire financial straits”, Magistrate’s Court heard yesterday.

Barbara Bean, 44, pleaded guilty to stealing six sacks of socks, pink lady’s pyjamas and a sleeveless beige sweater for a total of $123.20 from Gibbons Company in Hamilton.

Bean, of Mary Victoria Road, Devonshire also had outstanding fines of $4,000 for driving an unlicensed motor vehicle.

Crown counsel Nicole Smith, told the court that at 2.15 p.m. on December 21, last year, the security guard on duty saw Bean with a bag leave the store when the buzzer went off. The security guard’s supervisor was notified and later saw Bean in the children’s department. When he asked Bean to the provide a receipt for the contents- she could not.

She was taken to the office of the Human Resources Manager, Anthony Trott, who called the Police and Bean was arrested. Duty Counsel Kendrick James said: “She’s a mother of seven children, five of whom are under the age of 16 and are attending school.

“You can see from the items it’s socks for the comfort of young children.”

Bean apologised and said: “It was a stupid mistake.”

About the lack of payment on the fines, Bean said: “I come back each time to ask for more time to pay. But I get paid monthly $2,200 and my rent is $1,650 and electricity is $400. “

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo, however, disagreed it was a mistake after reading out Bean’s previous convictions which date back as far as 1983 for similar offences.

Mr. Tokunbo said: “A stupid mistake you’ve made before. Can you support your children if you’re in prison?”

He then extended the fines until June 29 and ordered a social inquiry report for June 15.