A woman described as a “walking crime wave” drove a getaway vehicle at two shopworkers during a spree where she stole more than £3,000 worth of goods from a string of stores.
Shelley Simpson appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday, where she admitted 22 separate charges.
The 38-year-old joined forces with two men to target shops across the north-east between October 15 and January 17, and regularly acted as the getaway driver.
The court heard the trio began by stealing toys from the B&M shop on Bedford Road in Aberdeen, before taking speakers and toiletries from the B&M in Portlethen on October 30.
Subsequent offences took place at Sainsbury’s at Berryden Retail Park in Aberdeen and Salon Services on the city’s Willowbank Road in November.
It was during the latter incident that Simpson, after stealing four pairs of hair straighteners, was confronted by staff.
The court heard that she reacted by driving her Vauxhall Corsa at Deborah Allison and Rebecca Symers – causing the women to jump onto the bonnet to avoid being struck, before being knocked to the ground.
Simpson later stole from a TK Maxx at Kittybrewster, Asda in Bridge of Don, Boots in the Bon Accord Centre, Morrisons in Banchory, Asda in Portlethen and Tesco in Inverurie during December.
She made off with a haul of alcohol and perfume during the spree, which continued on January 2 when she lifted more drink from the Asda in Portlethen.
She stole more alcohol from various supermarkets in Aberdeenshire until she was finally caught and arrested at the end of that month.
Fiscal Colin Neilson said the combined value of the items she took was £3,231.97.
The court heard that Simpson took part in the crimes to feed her drug addiction.
Sheriff Graeme Napier said: “To deliberately drive a car at two people doing their job is absolutely nothing short of disgraceful.
“I can understand the dishonesty, though I don’t condone it, but this puts you in a completely different bracket.”
Sentence was deferred until next month for the preparation of social work reports, and Simpson was remanded in custody.
