A THIEF who has been shoplifting for over 20 YEARS has been caught helping herself to hundreds of pounds worth of merchandise from Marks & Spencer.

Kirsty Donnachie, 44, stole clothes and toiletries from the company's store in Port Glasgow just days after appearing in court on other theft charges.

Donnachie, of Greenock's Nicolson Street, was also on bail regarding two other shoplifting matters at the time of the offence on September 8 last year.

She had been told around a week earlier that she was facing prison after admitting to stealing £22 worth of tea and coffee jars from the town's The Range store.

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher told the sheriff court that his client is facing a deferred sentence and a trial on other matters next month.

Mr Gallagher said: "She says that she has been drug free for the 'last while'.

"There have also been certain mental health issues over the years."

Prosecutor John Penman said that Donnachie, whose numerous offences include stealing clothes hangers from Primark, was captured on CCTV stealing a total of £233 worth of items from M&S.

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre had told Donnachie last year: "You have to understand that this cannot go on — 23 years of shoplifting."

The sheriff deferred sentence on her at the time for a background report and stated: "There has been a drug treatment and testing order in the past, as well as admonitions, fines, community payback orders.

"Nothing is working at all, apart from prison, because if she is in prison then that means that she does not shoplift."

Within days Donnachie had targeted M&S.

Sheriff Joseph Hughes has deferred sentence on her for the thefts there until June 30, when other cases are calling against her.