A SERIAL shoplifter who avoided jail for a stealing spree appears to have reacted by celebrating with nicked booze.

As a result, Joan Meiklejohn, 49, of Lumphinnans Road, Lochgelly, is facing another charge and her solicitor submitted a guilty plea on her behalf at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Meiklejohn admitted that on February 2, at Marks and Spencer, High Street, Dunfermline, she stole a quantity of alcohol.

Sheriff David Hall deferred sentence until June 6 for Meiklejohn to attend court.

He commented: “I see she’s on a community payback order already and it was imposed the same day of this offence. She must have been celebrating.”

On February 2, Meiklejohn had appeared for sentencing for a long list of shoplifting offences having targeted stores mainly in Dunfermline throughout last year, helping herself to perfume, alcohol, clothing and meat.

Defence solicitor David Bell admitted that day that his client was on a “shoogly peg” as a result of her crimes.

However, Sheriff Susan Duff imposed a community payback order with 12 months of supervision. She told Meiklejohn: “You’re 49 now. You’ve got to start making changes to your life.”

After one of her many previous appearances in the same court, Sheriff Alastair Brown told Meiklejohn: “Your record is atrocious. People who run shops are entitled to the protection of the courts.”