'Professional shoplifter' shocked by jail

File photo / NZ Herald

A woman described by a judge as "professional shoplifter" gasped as she was jailed for 18 months today.

Cindy Louise Hensley, 40, was sentenced by Judge John Strettell in Christchurch District Court after admitting seven charges of theft and four charges of trespass.

Defence counsel David Stringer said Hensley's probation report revealed the offending was drug-related. The money she received on a benefit was not sufficient to care for two children and to replace broken items after the earthquakes.

He said she had been on the methadone programme in Nelson but moved to Christchurch and could not get into the programme straight away there.

Judge Strettell said the seven charges of theft occurred between October 2010 and April 2011 and she also had a breach of bail charge, and a breach of intensive supervision.

He said she had a long history of abusing drugs and her addiction had escalated in recent months.

Since Hensley had been in custody she had been drug-free and said she had no desire to return to drugs, he said.

Her probation report said she was an intelligent and capable woman, and hoped that she could sustain her commitment to change upon her release from prison.

Judge Strettell said the vice-like grip drugs had on her created an environment where she had to take items of property.

He said she had 29 previous theft and dishonesty charges, and was a recidivist thief.

- NZPA