Prolific thief given chance to change

A renowned thief with an astonishing 315 offences on her record has been given yet another chance to change.

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Joanne Igo was already on both a suspended sentence and a community order, the former imposed just last month, when she helped herself to a designer handbag from Fenwick, in Newcastle. Igo, 45, was arrested and brought before the courts within 24 hours, where she pleaded guilty to one count of shop theft.

Despite her appalling record, which includes 155 offences for theft alone, District Judge Paul Currer was persuaded to give her one final chance to change her ways and stay out of prison.