Penelope Russell, 42, was told by the judge at the Stoke-on-Trent crown court that he had never encountered a woman with so many convictions, the Daily Express reported. In the latest theft, Russell robbed 74-year-old Dorothy Hall who was out shopping with her daughter in Tesco in Staffordshire. She stole the woman's handbag from her trolley.
She had also robbed another woman of her handbag a few days earlier. The court heard that Russell's 227 previous offences included 129 for theft and 52 for fraud.
Judge Paul Glenn said: "You have a truly appalling record. I have never seen a female offender with so many convictions."
"You are a professional criminal and the public deserve a rest from you, particularly the female shoppers you so regularly target," he said." Russell was jailed for two years.
Published 28 June 2011, 11:38 IST