Julia Stokes (27) of Drumbeg appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday via video link from Hydebank Prison. Stokes faced a total of 11 sets of charges, mostly for theft but which also included breaches of probation and community service orders. On Monday she was sentenced for several of these. 

Stokes, who had been identified by police on CCTV after being contacted by the shop, had previously pleaded guilty to stealing car oil worth £29.99 from McBride’s Spar in Enniskillen on January 29th last year. Defence barrister Steffan Rafferty said this theft was “bizarre” as Stokes did not drive or have a car.  

In relation to a separate incident, Stokes had previously been found guilty in her absence of stealing £731 of DVDs from Asda in Ballyclare on October 21st last. She had been identified on CCTV taking the DVDs and putting them in a bag, then leaving the shop without paying for them. 

A third set of charges related to the theft of a make up pallet worth £30.99 from McDaid’s Chemist in Lisnaskea. Police again identified her on CCTV. During a search when being arrested Stokes produced a small amount of herbal cannabis. She admitted both the theft and the possession. 

Mr Rafferty said Stokes, who had her previous probation and community service orders revoked, had been given “every opportunity” to change her behaviour but it had had no positive impact. He said Stokes had a record for dishonesty offences, and while she had been sent to prison for previous convictions these periods of incarceration had not had a “rehabilitative impact” on her. 

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said it was “not the easiest” case to sentence. In total, he sentenced Stokes to eight months in prison. 

Several sets of charges remain against Stokes. These include seven counts of thefts from various shops in Enniskillen on August 18, and separate allegations of theft, burglary and possession of cannabis at Asda in Enniskillen on August 20. These charges were adjourned for two weeks until February 18th.