A WINCHESTER woman has admitted a theft spree including a guitar from a charity shop that raises money for sick children.

Maxine Mason, 42, of Christchurch Road, pleaded guilty at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court to the spree, which went on for three months.

Mason stole a total of £967 worth of fragrances from Debenhams on three occasions in November and December, as well as an unknown amount on November 25.

She also admitted stealing a guitar worth £30 from the Naomi House charity shop, in St George’s Street, on January 21, and £360.70 worth of clothes from the Jack Wills store in High Street.

Magistrates sentenced Mason to a community order, including a drug rehabilitation order. She was also ordered to pay £230 in compensation, £30 of which will go to the Naomi House charity shop.

Paul Morgan, head of fundraising at Naomi House and Jacksplace hospices , said: “Naomi House relies on the generous support of the community to provide our services to life-limited children and their families. Our retail operation is an important part of how we raise the money required to deliver those service. We receive less than 10 per cent of those costs from Government. Stealing from our shop is reduces our ability to raise the funds needed for our services.”

We would like to thank those generous people who continue to deliver good quality stock to our Warehouse in Winnall or via their local shop.”