Brazen shoplifter stole four bottles of Prosecco – then returned to swipe more when she realised it was non-alcoholic

A BRAZEN shoplifter stole 4 bottles of Prosecco - past returned to swipe much erstwhile she realised it was non-alcoholic.

Ellie Pritchard, 22, nicked £26 worthy of bubbly from a Tesco Express portion retired with a pal successful Southport, Merseyside.

But the haul fell level erstwhile they discovered they had really stolen Prosecco that was zero per cent alcohol.

Shameless Pritchard returned to the aforesaid store conscionable 40 minutes aboriginal to transportation retired another raid - this clip stealing fizz with a precocious intoxicant content.

The mum was caught erstwhile a taxi operator recovered 1 of the unopened bottles successful the backmost of his cab aft giving Pritchard a lift.

Store workers checked the CCTV and saw the 2 thieves taking booze and walking retired without paying.

They delved further and discovered Pritchard had brazenly returned for different heist.

When she was arrested, the young pistillate said: "I was going done a atrocious clip - I conscionable wanted a drink.''

She avoided jailhouse aft pleading blameworthy to 2 charges of theft and was fined £120 and ordered to wage £62 compensation to Tesco.

Her accomplice Chanelle Wilson, 27, failed to look successful court but was convicted of theft successful her lack and fined £180 with £157 successful costs and a unfortunate surcharge.

Sefton Magistrates' Court heard Pritchard and Wilson targeted the store connected June 12 nether the guise of buying groceries.

Tara Thomas, prosecuting said: “The suspect and her accomplice took 4 bottles of non-alcoholic Prosecco from the fridge and they passed each points of payment.

"The suspect aboriginal returned a abbreviated clip aboriginal by herself astatine astir 1pm and stole different 4 bottles of alcoholic Prosecco. She took the bottles retired of the fridge and passed each points of payment.

“The suspect was identified from CCTV by the manager of the store. She was interviewed successful narration to the substance and admitted to stealing each the Prosecco."

The tribunal was told Pritchard had a erstwhile condemnation for drink-driving successful 2022.

In mitigation, her lawyer Charlotte Baggaley said she is simply a "vulnerable young lady" who suffers from depression and anxiety.

Sentencing, JPs told Pritchard: “We person taken into relationship that you person shown remorse and that you are lightly convicted."