A DEBT-STRICKEN west Cumbrian mum who took her son on a "professional shoplifting expedition" has been sentenced by a crown court judge.

But Recorder Simon Killeen drew back from imposing any fine or prosecution costs on 42-year-old Ashley Winn after her defence barrister outlined how she had been left with £3,500 in rent arrears after leaving a former partner.

Winn was also looking after her severely autistic 20-year-old son, defence barrister Kim Whittlestone told Carlisle Crown Court.

Winn, formerly of Shore Road, Salterbeck, Workington, admitted shoplifting at a B&M Bargains in Whitehaven in April last year.

Prosecutor Tim Evans said security staff at the store spotted Winn and her co-defendant Haley Bower, 32, acting suspiciously, putting items into their bags without paying. When confronted, it was discovered Winn's floral bag contained stolen goods worth £59 while inside Bower's leopard-print bag were goods worth just over £70.

Miss Whittlestone said of Winn: "She's found herself in significant debt: £3,500 rent arrears. This is not a woman who has excessive income. She's in arrears as a result of leaving that relationship and that in a sense is the root of her offending."

Passing sentence, Recorder Killeen noted Winn and Bower went on what he called a "professional shoplifting expedition."

He told Winn: "On April 29, you decided to go with Haley Bower on a commercial shoplifting spree in B&M in Whitehaven. You took with you your son, whom you look after and that was a disgraceful thing to do."

But the judge noted the defendant's only only relevant history was a caution for shoplifting in 2019. He accepted that Winn felt ashamed of taking along her son, who has complex problems.

Recorder Killeen added: "In all the circumstances, the reality is that you are in a difficult position and you are in every other respect seemingly doing a good job of looking after someone who has complex needs.

"You are, like many people, in debt and your position can not have been made any better by the position the whole country is in...

"However frustrated I am that the public pay because of this disgraceful adventure, Miss Whittlestone is right and I should not add to the burden on someone who on the face of it involved herself in this crime because of financial difficulties by making the position worse."

The judge imposed a 12 month community order with a requirement to complete 12 rehabilitation activity days.

Bower, of Far Moss, Northside, Workington, admitted the B&M store theft at an earlier hearing and will be sentenced later.

Also at an earlier hearing, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped a shoplifting allegation against Martin Winn, accepting it would not be appropriate to proceed with a prosecution given his mental health status.