A SHOPLIFTER who earlier this month went almost straight from the cells to steal makeup from Boots once again failed to show up before the courts.

It was not indigence that resulted in Anna Burns’ no-show at Swindon Crown Court on Friday but a vomiting bug.

The 33-year-old was remanded in custody a fortnight ago after admitting her latest theft.

She had been due to be sentenced by Judge Peter Crabtree on Friday for a number of shoplifting offences and bail breaches.

But John Upton, Burns’ barrister, told the court he had spoken to an apologetic warden at HMP Eastwood Park, Gloucestershire, who told him the shoplifter could not be produced – as she had been placed into isolation.

He said: “I did ask the warder if he could give me an estimate of how long she would be in quarantine. He said 48 hours from when she finished vomiting.”

Judge Crabtree adjourned the case for Burns to recover from her illness: “Staying in custody may provide the answer in some respects. She does need to be dealt with to bring this to an end and so she has some idea of where she’s going.”

Burns hit national headlines last year after being banned from going to any shop in England except a single Swindon Tesco Metro.

The thief had a spell in custody before Christmas when magistrates remanded her for an alleged shoplifting spree targeting Greggs, Caffé Nero, Lush and a Polish supermarket.

She appeared before the crown court at the start of this month, where the judge bailed her to be sentenced in early February.

Presciently, Judge Crabtree told the court: “Miss Burns has got an appalling record for attending courts and going out immediately committing offences.”

Burns was released after the 10am court hearing. Within hours she had gone to Boots and stolen almost £60 of cosmetics.