A Hampshire shop thief has been banned from wearing wigs in an effort to curb her prolific offending.
Rachael Cole, 44, of Warren Close, Whitehill, admitted four offences of shop theft when she appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on Friday, 5th December 2025.
The offences placed her in breach of a 20-week suspended sentence imposed by Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on Friday, 25th July 2025.
Magistrates heard that the 44-year-old stole £964 worth of goods from shops in Hook and Liphook between 10th November and 1st December 2025.
In one particularly brazen heist, Cole donned a wig to disguise herself before making off with seven bags of dog food from Sainsbury's, Liphook.
Magistrates were of the view that Cole's offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.
She was sentenced to 36 weeks' custody, which included activation of the earlier suspended sentence order.
The court also made her subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order, which for the next two years bans her from every Sainsbury's and Tesco store in the UK. The order also prohibits her from wearing any wig, hairpiece or face covering to conceal her appearance when entering or inside any retail premises.
Inspector Matt Wake, of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, said: "Cole repeatedly and brazenly steals from local businesses, even going as far as making a poor attempt at disguising herself with a wig to try and deceive police and shop owners.
"Once she's served her prison sentence, she will face a number of very strict conditions that prohibit her behaviour. If she fails to comply, she will be arrested and brought before the courts once more."
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