A SHOPLIFTER who has tested the court’s patience by repeatedly failing to turn up has been banned from every single shop in England – except a Tesco Metro in Swindon town centre.

Anna Burns attended Swindon Crown Court with a suitcase yesterday morning ready to be sentenced for a series of shop thefts.

But the judge bailed the 33-year-old, ordering a pre-sentence report from the probation service to look at all options – including prison.

Judge Peter Crabtree told Burns: “The starting point is custody but I’m going to look at all options.

“Someone needs to do something that stops you repeatedly committing offences and coming back.

“That may be custody but I will look at all options.”

Burns appeared before the crown court at the start of the month when she was due to be sentenced for four shop thefts, including mascara from Boots, two watches from Argos, clothing worth £72 from Mothercare and food and drink worth £55.40 from Costa Coffee.

She claimed she was ill and was bailed by Judge Crabtree to go to the NHS walk-in centre less than 400ft from the court building and return to court at the end of the week.

Burns hobbled to the health centre accompanied by a probation officer.

But she left within minutes after hearing she would have to wait half-an-hour to be seen by a nurse. She said she wanted to walk home to collect her phone charger then call an ambulance.

On the Friday – the day she was due before the judge – she was a no-show and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Prosecuting, Peter Pride said: “Being frank about it, this matter was listed for sentence on Monday and as your honour knows, Ms Burns arrived late.

“You honour was very clear of the need [for her] to be here on Friday.”

John Upton, defending, said his instructing solicitors had not heard from Burns that day.

Warrants were issued the following week when she did not show-up at court.

On Saturday, November 16, she appeared in the dock at Swindon Magistrates’ Court, where she pleaded guilty to stealing £307-worth of goods from Marks and Spencer’s and £40-worth from Sainsbury’s.

Yesterday, Judge Crabtree bailed her again, with a requirement she live and sleep at a property on Shepherd Street, co-operate with the probation service in the compilation of a pre-sentence report and not enter any shop except the NHS Walk-in Centre and Tesco in The Parade. In a nod to Burns’ poor attendance, the judge said: “Make sure you are here. I think you’ve managed to get here once out of about a dozen occasions on time.”