A SERIAL thief who cleared Aldi’s shelves of hundreds of pounds worth of luxurious chocolates told Warrington Magistrates Court ‘I will never jeopardise my freedom again’.

The courts heard how the 31-year-old woman was arrested back in December 2022 having been caught stealing goods on three separate occasions from the supermarket chain in Warrington.

Simona-Elena Mustafa, of Pennington Lane, Wigan, appeared before the court last Tuesday, 21 facing three counts of theft.

Prosecuting, Angela Blackmore said the defendant had stolen a total of £135.66 worth of Ferrero Rocher chocolates from Aldi stores within town in October 2022.

Mustafa was caught in the act again in November last year and then a final time in December where she again stole £135.66 worth of the popular sweet treats.

The offender arrived in court with no representation and was told by the Chair of the Bench, Lynn Colter-Howard, that her actions were ‘serious’, with the charges being a breach of a conditional discharge back in March last year.

The defendant was asked by the magistrates to speak on her offences, to which she responded:

“I am very sorry and I understand the seriousness of my mistake.

“I will never jeopardise my freedom again.”

Chair Colter-Howard addressed Mustafa said: “I must remind you how serious these offences are considered to be in the courts”.

Mustafa was handed a 12 month community order as well as ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation and 100 hours of unpaid work - £271.98 of compensation is also owed.