Peterborough sisters who stole handbags from John Lewis jailed

Lorraine (47) and Sian Williams (39) of Blackmead, Orton Malborne, were handed the sentence on Thursday after pleading guilty to two counts of theft at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court.

On January 16 the pair took several handbags and purses from John Lewis in Downing Street, Cambridge, before making off without paying.

They returned five days later and stole bottles of perfume. The goods they took were worth more than £3,000.

PC Rebecca Neville said: “The pair were spotted on CCTV filling their bags with handbags, purses and perfume and leaving without making any attempts to pay.

“Shoplifting has a detrimental effect on not only the businesses involved but the people working within them and the community which they serve.”