A SERIAL thief with a despicable criminal record went on a crime spree in Stockton Heath where she stole items from cars.

Lesley Murphy left her home in Bewsey and travelled to Stockton Heath to ‘try car doors’.

She left her victims feeling unsafe, stressed, and anxious.

The 48-year-old has 29 previous convictions for 70 offences.

Out of these 29 convictions, 27 are theft related.

Murphy, now of Brick Street, appeared before Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to three counts of theft from a motor vehicle and one of attempted theft from a motor vehicle.

Warrington Guardian:

Prosecuting, Mr Woodward said how the offences happened during the night of November 28 when police received a number of reports of items being stolen from vehicles in Stockton Heath.

CCTV footage revealed a woman, later identified as Murphy, wearing a large parker coat trying car doors and stealing items from vehicles.

This was on Calderfield Close, Whitefield Road, and Cawdor Street.

Murphy stole a number of items, including a coat, sunglasses, a handbag, and a bankcard – which was later used at a service station.

Victim impact statements were read to the court, revealing how residents had been left feeling unsafe, stressed, and anxious as a result of Murphy’s theft spree.

Defending, Murphy’s solicitor said how her client ‘deserves credit’ for putting her history of offending behind her since 2021.

She also said how her client has overcome her drug addiction.

The court heard how Murphy was taking pain relief for sciatica but her prescription was stopped, so she resorted to buying medication on the streets which led to her offending this time round.

Concluding, the chair of the magistrates’ bench said: “You went on a spree that evening.

“You left your residence in Bewsey and went to Stockton Heath to try car doors.”

Murphy was jailed for 12 weeks.