Grandma with 50-year criminal career told by judge ‘you’re getting too old for this’

A grandmother arrested for shoplifting was told by a judge she is getting ‘too old for this now’ during sentencing.

Christine Carriage, 71, has a criminal career that spans over five decades, starting in 1965.

She appeared before Judge Stephen Holt at Norwich Crown Court on July 11 after admitting acquiring or possessing criminal property.

The judge handed her a 24-week prison term, suspended for 18 months.

Carriage, of Bowthorpe, in Norfolk, was then back in court a day later on July 12, having previously admitted five thefts from shops between June 11 and October 11 last year.

She also admitted commission of a further offence whilst subject to a conditional discharge.

The case had been adjourned until the outcome of the crown court case.

During her sentencing, prosecuting lawyer Wayne Ablett told the court how she had stolen goods from Peacocks and John Lewis.

The court heard how Carriage had committed a string of thefts including the theft of two sets of curtains worth £240 and a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses worth £163.

The thefts were recorded on CCTV and Carriage was subsequently identified by police.

Chairman of the bench of magistrates, Eamon Lambert, also echoed the comments made by Judge Holt who told her she was ‘getting too old’ for her life of crime.

Carriage was sentenced to 24 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, which will run alongside the same sentence issued in the crown court a day earlier.

She was also ordered to pay £597.98 in compensation.

In 2015, Carriage went before the court after police found a total of 1,337 items of clothing, shoes and handbags at her bungalow.

She was given a six-month suspended sentence.