A pregnant mother who took a young child on a shoplifting spree just weeks after being convicted of the same crime was jailed for six months today.

Shelley McDonald-Francis, 26, was caught with clothes from H&M and New Look stuffed in bags, her pockets and bra - just six weeks after being convicted for shoplifting. As reported in www.dailymail.co.uk.

Her lawyers had used her six-year-old daughter to convince judges not to enforce suspended prison sentences on three occasions after she repeatedly flouted the orders.

She was spared jail in January after asking for bogus refunds for two pairs of jeans in New Look she had removed from a rack in the shop moments earlier.

McDonald-Francis, who is now 15 weeks pregnant with her second child, wept as she was told today at Blackfriars Crown Court she had used up her last chance.

Jailing her for six months, Judge Jane Sullivan said of the last case: ‘I was told then you had a job and were going to change your ways.But that has not been the case. ‘You have become accustomed to shoplifting as a way of supplementing your income. ‘The stage has now been reached where there is no option but to impose an immediate custodial sentence.’

McDonald-Francis, who works for fast food chain McDonalds, was spotted acting suspiciously in a series of stores at the Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent, on February 24 this year.

Stephen Wells, prosecuting, said: ‘Staff saw this defendant and two other women selecting and concealing shoes in bags.

‘Police were called and detained this defendant, and shortly thereafter the other two were arrested as they were seen heading for the car park.’

As they searched McDonald-Francis, officers found clothes from New Look, H&M and Debenhams hidden in the bags, her pockets, and her bra.

She and one of the other women involved had young children with them at the time of the commission of these offences,’ added Mr Wells.

The court heard McDonald-Francis already had a string of similar convictions dating back six years.

Adaku Oragwu, defending, said it was ‘regrettable’ she had brought her daughter along as she committed the crimes, adding she was now being treated for depression.

McDonald-Francis, from Peckham, south London, admitted theft and breaching a suspended sentence.