A woman who tried to steal merchandise from a grocery store has been fined $300.

Janell Thomas, from Hamilton Parish, pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place last February, after initially denying it.

Magistrates’ Court heard that Thomas, 36, had a shopping cart and a backpack full of groceries from the MarketPlace on Church Street, but only paid for what was in the cart.

She was stopped by an employee before leaving the store with the unpaid items, valued at $57.

Thomas told magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo that she stole the items because she was hungry and is “working hard to do better”.

Thomas was given until the end of the month to pay the fine.

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