Woman with liver failure charged with theft and assault

The Crown Prosecution Service wants more detail on the medical position of a gravely-ill Sutton Bridge woman accused of a string of shop thefts with a total value of more than £5,800.

Magistrates in King’s Lynn were told yesterday (Thursday) that 36-year-old Natasha Hughes has liver and renal failure.

An arrest warrant had been issued at a previous hearing but police had concerns about bringing her to court, said prosecutor Victoria Bastock.

Hughes is charged with five thefts between March 6 and March 10, 2017. There are two counts of theft from Boots at Watton in Norfolk, one valued at £2,557.88 and another for £2,509.16.

Others are from Boots in Swaffham (£228.98 and £64.19) and Co-operative Group in Terrington St Clement (£499.95).

She also faces a charge of assault on an emergency worker in a hospital on September 25, 2018.

Miss Bastock said Hughes’ life expectancy is understood to be short, adding: “The letter (from a GP) doesn’t quite go as far as for the CPS to establish whether we’re in a position to continue.”

The case was adjourned to September 19 to gather further medical evidence.