A 31-year-old woman from Lymington has been ordered to pay more than £200 in fines and compensation after admitting to stealing from a New Milton store.

Sophie Louise Hobby, of Wootton Road, Tiptoe was sentenced at Southampton Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Tuesday 14 January).

The sentencing follows an incident at Superdrug, Station Road on Sunday 15 September 2024, during which Hobby stole more than £100 worth of make-up products.

At yesterday’s hearing, she ordered to pay £103.90 in compensation, an £80 fine and £32 victim surcharge.

PC Tom Jelly, of New Milton Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “I’m pleased for the store in question, as well as the wider business community here, that Hobby has been held accountable for her actions

"Retail crime is one of our local priorities, in addition to all the other work that the team deal with on a daily basis.

“This case should once again demonstrate our commitment to seriously tackling shoplifting across the new Forest.

“I must also place on record my huge thanks to the business concerned in this case for their support throughout our investigation.

“If it wasn’t for their hard work and help along the way, identifying Hobby and getting her to court would have been that much harder.

“I hope this case again sends out a very clear message to others thinking of committing criminality in New Milton. We won’t tolerate it and we will work tirelessly to bring you before the courts.”

If you are a shop owner or staff member, please continue to report any shopliftings to us.

You can do this by calling 101, or by reporting online via the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary website.

Report a crime | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary

You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or via the below link;

Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers

With your information, we can take action, including arresting and charging suspects and convicting offenders at court, as the above again demonstrates.