A string of thefts totalling more than £2,500, three assaults, including two on police officers, and making threats in a hospital earnt a Barking woman nearly six months behind bars.

Barkingside Magistrates’ Court heard how Rachel Doherty, 43, of John Burns Drive took groceries worth £61 from Asda in Vicarage Fields, Barking, on February 9; meat and coffee worth £150 from Co-op in Elm Park the same day; £93 worth of cosmetics from Boots in East Street, Barking, on May 21; cosmetics worth £655 from Superdrug in Barkingside on May 22; and £25 worth of items from the 99p store in Dagenham Heathway on July 29.

The latter offence was committed while she was under a conditional discharge for three counts of theft. Doherty had taken £655 worth of boxed gifts and toiletries from Boots in George Lane, South Woodford, on November 9; £929 worth of clothes from M and Co in Upminster on November 21; and £70 of food from Morrisons in Station Parade, Elm Park, on February 15.

She was jailed for 175 days for the thefts, as well as assaulting Samantha Phatten by beating on June 6 in John Burns Drive, Barking; assaulting Pc Gordon and Pc Slavnich on May 22 in Ashurst Drive, Ilford; using threatening or abusive words or behaviour in King George Hospital, Goodmayes, on June 13; and refusing to give a sample while in police detention the following day so officers could find out whether she was under the influence of drugs.

Doherty admitted all the charges.

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