A “PROFESSIONAL” thief who stole cosmetics worth thousands of pounds claimed they were just for her and her friends to share.

Pregnant Elena-Melanie Firu could face giving birth in prison after being jailed for a series of shoplifting offences.

The 25-year-old Romanian used a foil lined handbag to steal goods from Superdrug and when arrested gave a false address used by criminal gang members in London.

She admitted three counts of theft at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard on January 17 Firu stole £1,281.89 in goods from Superdrug in Colchester High Street.

On February 4 she stole £110 worth of lipstick from Superdrug in Braintree and another £400 worth of make-up on February 23 from the same store.

Ian Allen, prosecuting, said: “The woman is a professional shoplifter. These are targeted offences. She had a foil lined handbag.”

He told the court Firu had been caught on CCTV and arrested but gave a false address used by Romanian gangs and never returned to answer bail in June.

Firu appeared from custody having been arrested elsewhere on suspicion of similar offences in other counties. Firu, who gave an address of Burrford Road, London, admitted stealing the almost £2,000 in cosmetics over the course of a few weeks.

But she claimed the make-up was for herself and denied being part of any criminal gang.

Firu is four-and-a-half months pregnant and was jailed for 22 weeks. If she serves the full sentence she will reach full term in jail, although she is likely to be released earlier on licence.

She was jailed for ten weeks for the theft in Colchester and five and seven weeks for the thefts in Braintree.

Chairman of the bench Mr Davies said: “This is so serious only immediate custody is appropriate.

“These were professionally carried out offences. There is clear evidence of planning with the use of a foil handbag.”

She was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge although no compensation for Superdrug was ordered.