Prolific shoplifter Emma Austin has been handed a 5-month custodial sentence after a string of anti-social offences, including threatening a woman and baby, racial harassment, assault by beating and theft from a shop.
44-year-old Austin, who is currently behind bars but formerly of 154 Furlongs, Newport, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court yesterday afternoon (Tuesday), where she was sentenced for 6 offences that occurred on 15th October and 1 offence that occurred on 23rd June 2026.
The court heard from prosecutor Liz Miller, who said that on 23rd June, Austin attended her boyfriend’s probation appointment with him, where the pair got into an argument with the inclusion officer regarding the time of the appointment.
Ms Miller told the Magistrates that Austin became agressive and told him to “climb back up your tree” and “go back where you came from”.
The court went on to hear of Austin’s spree of offending on the 15th of this month, just 6 days ago, when she entered Lidl in Newport and stole a bottle of Western Whiskey and cheese strings to the value of £16.24. She then went into Tesco Express on the High Street and stole more alcohol and snacks before making her way further down the High Street to Boots, where she stole 2 bottles of perfume worth £330.
Now equipped with 2 bottles of alcohol, some snacks and perfume, the defendant made her way to St James’ Square, where she attempted to touch a member of the public’s baby.
When the new mother expressed concern over Austin’s behaviour and asked her to leave them alone, Austin said:
“I don’t give f*ck about your baby, I’ll punch you and your baby.”
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Whilst the incident was ongoing, an off-duty police officer passed Austin and called it in, alerting officers who quickly descended upon the square to make an arrest. It was whilst officers were attempting to make the arrest that Austin launched her assault, kicking a female officer in the leg and a male officer in the groin.
Defending his client, Oscar Vincent said Austin had been handed a 3-month suspended sentence, suspended for 12 months, in September, meaning that the latest offences had breached the order and resulted in her being taken into custody.
After a period of retirement, the Magistrates sentenced Emma Austin to 5 months in custody and ordered her to pay £373.64 in compensation to the victims.
