A senior university criminology lecturer embarked on a shoplifting spree that saw her attempt to steal more than £1,000 of wine, steaks and kitchenware, a court was told.
Pauline Al Said was caught trying to ‘covertly’ take more than £500 worth of alcohol and gifts from a garden centre in West Sussex, jurors were told.
Prosecutors allege the 34-year-old academic was then caught by undercover security guards with hundreds of pounds worth of wine and meat in her trolley in a branch of Marks and Spencer in Winchester.
When she was confronted at the garden centre, her husband Mark Wheatcroft allegedly became ‘verbally aggressive’ and hit the store’s security guard.
The pair deny the offences and today urged jurors at Salisbury Crown Court, Wilts, to keep their ‘eyes, mind, and ears open’ when listening to further evidence in the trial.
Pauline Al Said and her husband Mark Wheatcroft – also known as Mohammed Al Said – wave to a photographer outside Salisbury Crown Court
The Marks and Spencer store on Winchester High Street, from which Mrs Al Said is alleged to have attempted to steal £570.42 of steak and wine in September 2022
The Old Barn Garden Centre in Horsham, from which Mrs Al Said and her husband are alleged to have attempted to steal cookware and spirits
Al Said, formerly a senior lecturer in criminology at Bath Spa University, and her 56-year-old spouse made the first shoplifting attempt at the Old Barn nursery in Horsham, West Sussex, the court was told.
Laura Duff, prosecuting, said on December 14, 2021, John Dunkling – a loss prevention officer – ‘became aware’ of a female shopper pushing a trolley around.
‘That trolley appeared to contain two full shopping bags and no other items from the garden centre,’ the prosecutor said, ‘he thought it was unusual so decided to take a closer look.’
Mr Dunkling looked at the store’s CCTV and saw Al Said walking toward the shop’s exit with the two bags, allegedly without paying.
On her way out of the store, Al Said was stopped by another member of staff who found the shopping bags were full of ‘spirit and cookware’.
The couple were asked to go back into the store and it was at this point that Wheatcroft became ‘verbally aggressive’ and threatened to punch Mr Dunkling, it was heard. He then ‘made contact with his back’.
Police stopped Al Said and Wheatcroft and their details were taken but no arrest was made.
The two shopping bags were searched and found to contain £581.48 worth of goods, it was heard.
The prosecutor alleged that while walking around the store, Al Said had ‘covertly removed’ security tags from the products.
The second incident took place on September 30, 2022.
Ms Duff said Al Said was walking around Marks and Spencers on Winchester High Street, Hants, when an undercover security detective spotted her loading ‘packets of meat’ into a trolley.
‘When Ms Al Said realised she had been detected, she chose that moment to leave the store out the side exit,’ jurors were told.
Outside the store, Al Said tried to run away after security followed her and despite managing to initially get away – another security guard ‘prevented further escape’.
Her bags were searched again and it was found that £570.42 worth of steak and wine had been taken.
Al Said outside court. She denies two counts of theft, while her husband denies one count of theft and one of assault. They represented themselves in court
Al Said denies two charges of theft and Wheatcroft denies one count of theft and one count of assault.
The couple, who represented themselves, addressed the court today.
Al Said said: ‘Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, thank you for taking the time of our your lives to come here and listen to us.
‘You have heard from Ms Duff – she puts her case in very simple terms.
‘She puts her case in terms which would make the case appear very straightforward and you might find yourselves wondering why we are here for quite some more days.’
Al Said said they hope to ‘establish a background’ which will ‘go some way back’.
‘We will be doing a little bit of time travelling,’ she said, ‘When we give evidence, this will all become apparent.’
She told jurors: ‘As (Ms Duff) has just explained to you, if you are not sure at the end of the prosecution’s evidence then you must find us not guilty.
‘Keep your eyes, and your mind, and your ears open.’
Her husband, Wheatcroft – who is also known as Mohammed Al Said – said they hope to present factual evidence which will disprove the ‘the impossible scenario the crown are attempting to portray’.
The trial continues.
