Habitual shoplifter sentenced to 10 years behind bars

Desiree Williams, originally from Cape Town, was convicted of theft of items amounting to R798.40 from Cotton-On retail store on the 25 October 2021.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana says Williams checked if the leggings fit her in the fitting room and she put them in her bag intending to leave the store without paying for them.  

“When she was walking out the door, the store manager stopped her and called her to the back office and searched her bag. The items were found, and police were called, and Williams was arrested and has been in custody since.”

Mahanjana says Williams has been stealing since 1981.

“The prosecutor Rabia Ebrahim told the court that it was in the interest of society to impose a harsh sentence as Williams continues to commit the same offence since 1981 and no sentence has rehabilitated or deterred her.”

Mahanjana says the court was told that Williams has 34 previous convictions for theft.

“Twenty-nine of those are older than 10 years while five are between 2011 and 2020 and she is still awaiting trial for 31 pending cases.”

the court warned Williams that should she be convicted of another offence she may be declared a habitual criminal.  

“The prosecutor further asked the court to declare Williams a habitual criminal in terms of Section 286 of the Criminal Procedure Act,” says Mahanjana.

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