Thieving mums spared jail after $5k Zara spree

Judge says courts have ‘tried everything’

- CARL JACKSON Court Reporter

THESE are the faces of two Midland mums who were spared jail despite stealing thousands of pounds worth of clothes from upmarket retailer Zara.

Joanna Braker, 46, and Tracey Lamb, 47, targeted the shop at Touchwood in Solihull.

Both thieves, from Leicestershire, have previous convictions for shop-lifting and the judge at trial said he was frustrated that the courts have ‘tried everything’ with them in the past but ‘nothing had stopped’ them from stealing.

Birmingham Crown Court heard mother-of-four Braker fell on hard times after losing her accommodation and ending up in a hotel.

Mother-of-two Lamb blamed the end of her relationship and diagnosis of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).