A YOUNG Cardenden mum helped herself to goods worth almost £400 in shoplifting sprees at two Fife stores.

Ruth Bath, 20, did not see anything wrong in stealing from supermarket companies as they make big profits.

Bath, of Murray Knowe, Cardenden, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

She previously admitted that on September 17 last year at Tesco, Turnstone Road, Dunfermline, she stole items worth £272.

She also admitted that on September 23 at the Co-op, Bank Street, Lochgelly, she stole items valued at £117. There was no recovery of the stolen goods.

In the Tesco offences, Bath had simply walked through the self-scanning area without paying. She was not stopped at the time but later caught after CCTV was viewed.

Defence solicitor Amy Harley had previously told the court her client lives alone with her baby and is on benefits.

The thefts were “a result of her struggling for money,” she added.

Sheriff Susan Duff said she was concerned about the views expressed by Bath about the thefts in the social work report.

She told Bath: “You spoke about the profits of big companies and you being entitled to help yourself. That attitude would lead to anarchy in society.”

The sheriff imposed a structured deferred sentence for six months and Bath will return to court on August 30.