A Derry woman with ten previous convictions for theft has been given a one-month suspended sentence after admitting she stole makeup from a chemist.

Sam Marie McGinley, 36, of Rose Court in the Waterside area, pleaded guilty to taking items worth £114.26 on June 30.

Police told the court they viewed CCTV footage showing McGinley taking the cosmetics. The stolen makeup was later recovered but was deemed unsuitable for resale.

Her solicitor told the court that McGinley had been experiencing a mental health crisis before the incident. She entered a guilty plea and had a record relevant to the offence.

District Judge Suzanne Rice noted the defendant’s ten prior theft convictions but gave her credit for making full admissions and for her early guilty plea. McGinley was ordered to pay restitution and received a one-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months.