A DISTRICT judge told a thief she risked not being allowed to travel home to Bulgaria, if she did not pay her court fines before Monday.

Stoyanka Dragomirova admitted the theft of £289 worth of cosmetic items from Superdrug when she appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday.

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Shafquat Reaz, prosecuting, said the 40-year-old had gone into the High Street store in Worcester at around 11.20am on the morning of August 20 and picked up the items, putting them into her bag.

“She was seen on CCTV,” Mr Reaz said.

“She went passed all payment points, and she was apprehended by a staff member.”

Belinda Ariss, defending, said it was a very simple shop theft, which Dragomirova was deeply ashamed and sorry about.

Miss Ariss explained Dragomirova had come to England to work over the summer at a Pershore farm where she had previously been living, and had sent money back to her husband and their son.

“She has no previous convictions either here or in Bulgaria,” Miss Ariss said.

Miss Ariss added that Dragomirova was due to return to Bulgaria next Wednesday and had cancelled a plane booking to not miss the court date.

Deputy district judge Gary Garland said: “You have never been in trouble before. When you were spoken to by the police you said in Bulgaria it is quite common practise to put things in your handbag and then pay before you leave.

“It is important to pay before you leave.”

The judge gave her a £200 fine, a victim surcharge of £32 and costs of £168 - a total of £400.

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Mr Garland said: “Pay what you owe the court before Monday, otherwise if it is not paid when you go to the airport, you might find you can’t get out the country.

“That would upset (you) and other passengers on the plane.”

Dragomirova, of Deopham Green, Kingsway, Gloucester, agreed to pay the full amount within a week.