A BOOZE thief who stole bottles of alcohol from a Chester superstore has been fined.

Jade Burrell, 28, of Ffordd Siarl, Leeswood, Mold, was charged with stealing four bottles of spirits, including Smirnoff vodka, Bell's whiskey and Bacardi rum, collectively valued at £71.50, from the Tesco store off Sealand Road on July 20, 2020.

Having failed to appear at Chester Magistrates Court on Monday, February 15, magistrates found the case proved in her absence.

Prosecuting, Simon Green said the Tesco duty store manager was alerted to the shoplifter, who could be seen placing the bottles in a bag for life, having removed the security tags, and hiding them under a large bag of crisps.

The footage was captured on store CCTV, with Burrell having three distinctive star tattoos on her neck.

Burrell went to the customer service till to pay for the items in her trolley, but not the alcohol, and was confronted by the store manager as she left the building.

The bag for life containing the bottles of spirits were confiscated from her, and the store manager, in a statement, said Burrell then asked for her bag for life back, which was refused.

Burrell then told the store manager she needed to pick up her kids and began to panic, before leaving.

The incident was reported to police and Burrell attended a voluntary interview, to which she gave no comment answers.

Magistrates fined Burrell £440 and ordered her to pay £85 court costs and a £44 victim surcharge.

No compensation was ordered as the court heard the bottles had been recovered intact.