Pauline Al Said, 35, a former lecturer at Bath Spa University, has been convicted of stealing nearly £12,000 of alcohol from Sainsbury’s over nine months but received a suspended sentence
A woman who dubbed herself Britain’s “poshest thief” stole £12,000 worth of Sainsbury’s alcohol – yet has avoided prison despite dodging jail for a previous crime spree.
Pauline Al Said, 35, a former Bath Spa University lecturer, shot to notoriety in 2024 after being found guilty of pinching over £1,000 worth of Le Creuset kitchenware, wine, gin and premium steaks. She and her spouse got off lightly when the pair – who were discovered to have targeted a garden centre and Marks and Spencer – received £2,500 in fines.
Now, following another shoplifting spree, Al Said has managed to dodge custody once more as the repeat offender received a suspended sentence.
Al Said, from Southampton, has been found guilty of swiping a staggering £11,964 worth of goods, including “expensive vodka, gin, prosecco and wine” during a nine-month shoplifting campaign. Throughout the spree, which she undertook to feed a drug habit, the “highly intelligent” criminal concealed the pricey bottles in her shopping trolleys by placing “Disney dresses and dressing gowns” over them.
A judge handed her a suspended prison term after determining she had waged a “campaign against Sainsbury’s” during which she hit the store six times to swipe bottles of booze and packets of meat. On one occasion, Southampton crown court was told, she even popped into the shop’s café to peruse a stolen newspaper, reports the Mirror.
She has received an 18-month suspended prison term, with a judge ordering her to reimburse Sainsbury’s £1,800 – just a small portion of what her months-long stealing spree was actually worth. She’s also been prohibited from entering the supermarket chain throughout her sentence period, after the judge told Al Said she appeared to “single out” the retailer.
Judge Gary Lucie declared during sentencing of the ex-professor: “You stole mostly alcohol and seemed to target Sainsbury’s. They were items which were easily sold to buy drugs. This was a campaign of high-value shoplifting over nine months. But you have shown what I consider to be genuine remorse.
“You are a highly intelligent woman and, as you have said, you could do a lot of good. I’m aware you have ended your toxic relationship. Considering the value of the theft, I find a period of 44 weeks custody to be justified, but suspended for 18 months.”
The judge explained he would impose a suspended sentence whilst believing she wouldn’t adhere to a community service order, and mandated her attendance at 28 rehabilitation sessions. Whilst defending Al Said, Emily Jarrod described her as a “highly, highly educated woman” who has “turned a corner and ended the relationship” with her ex-husband.
The court was told that Al Said, who has changed her name to Pauline Tusien, has established a website offering “life and career mentoring”, including wellness support, and can “help people find clarity, when things feel complicated”.
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