“Last chance saloon” for 20-year-old Islander who committed 31 crimes in four months

An Isle of Wight woman has avoided an immediate prison sentence after committing 31 crimes in four months, including more than 20 thefts, assaulting police and making a death threat.

Maddy Allen-Willsher, of Godric Road, Newport, attended the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Friday, June 28.

The 20-year-old previously pleaded guilty to 23 counts of theft from a shop, three counts of assault, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, attempted theft from a shop, sending communication threatening death or serious harm and failing to comply with a community protection notice.

Lauren Stone, prosecuting, said Allen-Willsher committed 31 offences between February 1 and June 4 this year, including a high number of thefts, which saw the defendant enter stores, alone or with others, and take items to the combined value of over £500.

Ms Stone said that on three occasions, Allen-Willsher assaulted shop staff who attempted to intervene and twice assaulted police officers.

Court heard that on February 16, Allen-Willsher sent a text that threatened to end another woman’s life by ‘bashing her skull in’.

Ms Stone explained the charges to the court:

• On February 1, at Co-op in Shanklin, she stole bread rolls, wine and beer to the value of £21.20.

• On February 4, at Sainsbury's and Morrisons in Ryde, she stole groceries and a bag of doughnuts to the value of £55.

• On February 16, in Newport, she sent a message threatening to fracture the skull of the victim and kill them.

• On March 5, at Co-op in Rookley, she stole two pouches of tobacco to the value of £41.

• On March 10, at Londis in Newport, she attempted to steal wine, sweets and crisps and, after being stopped, assaulted the shop worker.

• On March 18, at Sainsbury's in Newport, she stole two bottles of white wine, two bottles of red wine and two packets of salmon fillets to the value of £42.78.

• On March 20, alone and jointly, Allen-Willsher stole cider, wine and food items from Co-op in Ryde on six separate occasions, totalling a value of £133.

• On four occasions, between March 23 and March 29, Allen-Willsher, alone and jointly, stole more alcohol and food from Co-op in Ryde, to the value of £142.45.

• On April 7, at Boots in Newport, she stole various make-up items of unknown value and, on April 28, stole a set of Tatti Lashes from Superdrug in Newport, valued at £9.95.

• On three occasions between April 25 and May 6, she stole Bacardi, wine and crisps costing around £67.56 from Sainsbury's in Newport.

• On two occasions, on May 15 and May 27, she stole various items, including bottles of prosecco to the value of £22, at Marks and Spencer in Newport.

• On June 4, Allen-Willsher stole a bottle of wine and a pastry to the value of £5.29 from B&M in Newport – breaching a community protection notice.

• During the same day, she assaulted two shop workers, a police constable and a police community support officer.

Oscar Vincent, defending, said his client was a young person who has suffered a ‘colossal amount of trauma’, and had a ‘chaotic existence growing up’.

Mr Vincent told the court Allen-Willsher has poor coping skills, with alcohol dependency issues, and repeats the cycle of running out of money and stealing to fund more alcohol.

Court heard Allen-Willsher is ‘desperate’ for an intensive long-term alcohol treatment plan.

Magistrates handed Ms Allen-Willsher a three-year community order to include a 12-month alcohol treatment plan and 30 rehabilitation days.

She must also pay compensation to the businesses she stole from.

Magistrates told Ms Allen Willsher: “It’s last chance saloon. The next time you stand there, you’re going to jail.”

• Previous court reports on this defendant have been recorded under the name Maddy Allen-Willshire (as per the court listings)