Lisa Harbun, a 31-year-old mother from Weoley Castle, Birmingham, was responsible for a year-long spree of shoplifting that included 41 separate incidents and totaled over £5,000 in stolen goods. Her targets included well-known retailers like Asda, Sainsbury’s, Next, Holland & Barrett, Savers, Home Bargains, Boots, and Farmfoods. Despite the severity of her crimes, Harbun was spared immediate imprisonment, partly because she is pregnant and had recently begun engaging with support services to address her underlying drug addiction.
Throughout her string of offenses from June last year to June this year, Harbun was described by store managers as a prolific and worsening threat. Her thefts ranged from children’s clothing and food to plants, candles, and gift sets. On occasions, she became aggressive, even spitting at staff attempting to intervene. In a dramatic confrontation with police in June, Harbun violently resisted arrest and attempted to flee in her car with her young daughter inside, resulting in injury to an officer.
At Birmingham Crown Court on July 8, Harbun admitted to 39 counts of shoplifting, two attempts at shoplifting, two assaults, and one charge of assault with intent to resist arrest. She was also found to have breached a suspended sentence. The court sentenced her to an 18-month suspended sentence with conditions including a drug rehabilitation program and 20 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, she received a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order banning her from specific shops and retail areas in Selly Oak and Harborne.
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Judge Stacy Newnham-Payne acknowledged the serious nature of Harbun’s offenses and the potential justification for jail time but emphasized the potential harmful impact incarceration would have on Harbun’s children and unborn baby. The judge also noted her recent cooperation with drug and probation services as a positive sign for rehabilitation. Harbun’s defense highlighted her history of domestic abuse and subsequent involvement with class A drugs as underlying factors in her criminal behavior.
The court made it clear that this sentencing represents a final opportunity for Harbun to change her path and warned that any breach of the sentence could result in imprisonment. Social services are actively involved as Harbun prepares for the arrival of her baby in November, and she continues to engage with assessments and support.