Irvine crime: Shoplifter Nadia Johnstone jailed for dog theft threat

Nadia Johnstone was brought to court for sentencing last week after police managed to track her down.

Several warrants had been issued for the 23-year-old's arrest after she failed to appear in court on numerous occasions - with her absence leading to Police Scotland putting out a 'missing person' appeal in a bid to trace her.

A judge told Johnstone that there was no alternative to a prison sentence because of her repeated failure to comply with court orders.

Johnstone had pleaded guilty to barging into the address in the town's Clark Drive on May 11, 2022 - leading to her being arrested near a chip shop a short distance away.

She admitted entering the home without invitation, then refusing to leave while behaving in an aggressive manner towards a man and woman.

Johnstone shouted, swore and threatened the woman with violence and threatened to take her dog.

Not guilty pleas to stealing the dog and pushing the woman, causing the animal's owner to collide with a wall, were accepted by prosecutors.

In addition, Johnstone's theft spree saw her steal food and a pair of earphones from Tesco in Irvine on August 5 last year, while she was out on bail.

She later went on to steal a circular saw from Aldi on East Road on November 21, then a speaker from Currys.

She pleaded guilty to breaking into Marks and Spencer on February 7, 2022 by applying pressure to an automatic door, and making off with a haul of meat.

She also admitted nicking candles and cosmetics from Primark and cleaning products from Home Bargains, as well as destroying property belonging to the Nail Bar in the mall after pushing over a stand and damaging equipment.

She pleaded guilty to breaching a bail condition forbidding her from entering the mall or the retail park.

Johnstone also admitted failing to answer the door during a home curfew at Heatherstone Way on February 18 last year.

She also stole various items, including razors, perfume, electric toothbrushes, other electrical items and hair straighteners from the Sainsbury’s store in on January 30 and March 6, 7, 8 and 13 – and breaching a bail condition by entering the Bridgegate.

Additionally, Johnstone admitted breaching a curfew by failing to remain at home in Livingstone Terrace on May 7, as well as entering the Rivergate and Bridgegate area on Boxing Day last year – again in breach of a bail order.

She also admitted robbing a store in Troon while there were warrants out for her arrest from Ayr Sheriff Court.

When she appeared in the dock at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Thursday, May 4, defence solicitor Peter Murray said: “Ms Johnstone is still only 23, and is a single woman with no fixed abode.

“She has had significant drug addiction problems. She has never resided in her own tenancy and resided in hostels and with friends. There were issues with domestic violence also.

"She has had a significant change in circumstances.

"She was remanded on March 8 to HMP Greenock and since that time has fully detoxed.

"The thrust of my submission is that standing her age, change of circumstances and stability, I ask your lordship to give her one further opportunity."

Sheriff Murdoch MacTaggart replied: “I have to say I have no confidence in Ms Johnstone complying with any community-based disposal."

Turning to the accused, the sheriff said: “Understand that this number of complaints for someone older than you could amount to years in prison."

On calculating her sentence from the eight separate complaints, he said: “The effect of all that will be a total of 10 months, backdated to March 8, so in effect serving five months from today.

“No other sentence is appropriate.

"While I accept there is now a presumption against short prison sentences, there is no alternative open because of your failure to comply with previous court orders.

“When out of custody, I hope you can break this cycle of offending.”

Johnstone directed verbal abuse at the Times reporter as she was led out of the courtroom to start her sentence.