A shoplifting single mum will be spending Christmas and New Year behind bars after admitting a stealing amounts of meat from a local store to sell on.

Thirty-year-old Kelly Louise Rees of Precelly Place, Milford Haven, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday to admit five counts of theft from the Tesco store in Milford Haven.

Over a four day period between September 17 and 20, Ms Rees stole household goods and food items totalling £758 from the store the court heard, returning on October 17 to steal a further £400 worth of items.

Ms Rees’s sister thirty-one-year-old Tina Ann Rees of Wellington Street, Pembroke Dock, who appeared alongside her in the dock as she was jointly charged for three of the offences, also pleaded guilty.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that staff at the Tesco store had become aware that large amounts of meat were going missing from the counter displays.

“CCTV was checked as none of the offences were picked up at the time. The two defendants were seen going into the store on five occasions, three together. On all occasions large quantity of meats were stolen along with other items.

“The aggravating factor is that these thefts were clearly carried out with a view to selling the meats on for financial gain, and as they were done over a period of time, clearly there was some planning involved too. None of the items were recovered so there is a large compensation claim.

“The previous convictions for both defendants are considerable,” he added.

Defence solicitor David Elvy told the court that both sisters realised that magistrates would view the charges with considerable seriousness.

“As you can see from their demeanour in the dock today, both defendants are deeply ashamed and distressed ti be here.

“Kelly Rees is now a single mother of three after her partner left the family home, taking the income with him.

“She didn’t know which way to turn and resorted to these offences. It is a wretched position she found herself in, and she is deeply worried and distressed that her children will be without their mother for Christmas if she goes to prison.

“Tina Rees’ involvement was less and she had a far more limited lost of previous convictions, and not troubled the court for six years now,” he added.

Probation officer Julie Norman told magistrates that Kelly Rees was well known to the probation service as she had 29 previous convictions, mostly for shoplifting.

“She has a history of theft matters on record, and has been to prison in the past. She is upset knowing that she faces a custodial sentence,” she added.

Magistrates told Kelly Rees that the matters were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified, handing her a 32 week prison sentence.

She was ordered to pay £779 compensation to the Tesco store, along with £85 in prosecution costs and a £122 victim surcharge.

Tina Rees was given a suspended eight week prison sentence, and ordered to comply with the following requirements within the supervision period of 12 months - a curfew requirement with electronic monitoring for two months between 6 pm and 6 am; and a 15 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

She was also ordered to pay compensation of £379 to the Tesco store, as well as £85 in prosecution costs and a £122 victim surcharge.