A 28-year-old woman was “slightly more sophisticated” than a shoplifter when she obtained a refund for shoes she hadn’t paid for.

Paula Mary Teresa Wilkinson, of Kesh Road, Irvinestown, appeared in the dock at Fermanagh Court and pleaded guilty to two charges of fraud involving her presenting items as if they had previously been bought by her.

She was fined £300.

A prosecutor told the court that around 7.50pm on Friday, October 11, police were called to the Asda store in Enniskillen where staff had detained Wilkinson for shoplifting. She had entered the supermarket and removed shoes valued at £40 from a shelf. She then took the shoes to the customer services desk and claimed she had bought them previously and wanted to change them. She was issued with a gift voucher for £40.

The prosecutor said Wilkinson was taken to Enniskillen Police Station where she made full admissions.

Defence solicitor Niall Bogue said Wilkinson was in full-time employment and had no previous convictions.

He said he had tried unsuccessfully to have the Public Prosecution Service withdraw the charges and have the matter dealt with in a diversionary manner that didn’t involve the court.

He asked District Judge Nigel Broderick to deal with Wilkinson as if she was a shoplifter, suggesting that if she had simply walked out of Asda with the shoes she would have received a caution.

However, the District Judge said it was “slightly more sophisticated than that”.

He asked why Wilkinson did it.

Mr. Bogue replied that she had personal difficulties involving a previous employer and “it was a time of crisis for her and unfortunately in manifested itself in this way”.

The District Judge told Wilkinson he was prepared to accept it was a situation that was out of character for her but warned her that if she re-offended the court would not deal with her by way of a fine.

Wilkinson said: “I can assure you it won’t happen again.”