In a remarkable turn of events, a former criminology lecturer has once again avoided a prison sentence despite being involved in her most audacious shoplifting spree to date, pilfering nearly £12,000 worth of alcohol.

Pauline Al Said, who has taken to calling herself ‘the UK’s poshest thief,’ is infamous for her repeated thefts of high-end goods from upscale retailers such as Waitrose and M&S. Her targets have included luxury cookware items from Le Creuset, among others.

In her latest spree, Al Said, a 35-year-old Polish national, appeared to have shifted her focus predominantly to Sainsbury’s. During this crime wave, she managed to make off with approximately £11,964 worth of merchandise, primarily expensive vodkas, gins, Prosecco, and wine.

The court heard how Al Said cleverly concealed her ill-gotten gains by placing Disney dresses and dressing gowns over the pricey bottles of alcohol in her trolley, a tactic that allowed her to repeatedly evade detection.

In the latest ruling, she was given an 18-month suspended sentence and ordered to repay £1,800 to Sainsbury’s, a mere fraction—just over 15 percent—of the total value of the goods she stole. This decision has sparked debate over the adequacy of justice served in her case.

Al Said gained notoriety after she and her then-husband Mark Wheatcroft swiped more than £1,000 worth of Le Creuset cookware, steaks, wine and gin. 

She moved to Southampton in 2007 and has worked as a lecturer in criminology at Bath Spa University.

‘Britain’s poshest thief’ Pauline Al Said, 35, has been spared jail again after stealing £12,000 worth of luxury vodka, prosecco and gin from Sainsbury’s

Al Said gained notoriety after she and her then-husband Mark Wheatcroft (pictured together) swiped more than £1,000-worth of Le Creuset cookware, steaks, wine and gin

She has called herself the ‘UK’s poshest thief’ on the biography of her X account.

The thief has attempted to go straight and work as a life coach, giving advice to people so they can ‘start living a life that feels as good as it looks’.

But her past keeps catching up with her – most recently for her ‘campaign against Sainsbury’s’.

She went to the store six separate times to steal bottles of alcohol and packets of meat, and in one instance even went to the store’s café afterwards to read a stolen newspaper.

Prosecuting, Peter Shaw said: ‘She conducted a campaign of shoplifting having been subject to a seven count indictment.

‘On June 22, 2024, at a Sainsbury’s in Southampton she stole clothing, washing products and alcohol. These were expensive bottles of vodka, gin, prosecco and wine.

‘On June 23 a security guard noticed large gaps in the alcohol shelves and checked CCTV. He saw the defendant taking them from the shelves into her trolley. Over 30 bottles of expensive alcohol were gone.

‘On June 26 she stole £2,032.79. The same security guard saw her on CCTV take two trolleys around the store.’

‘On February 4, 2025, she stole £1865.80 from Sainsbury’s, firstly by putting Disney dresses and dressing gowns in her trolley and then concealing bottles of spirit under the gowns.

‘On the same day she attempted another theft. She entered in the afternoon and took men’s clothes and women’s coats and electric toothbrushes.

‘A security guard was told a woman was shoplifting so he detained her and called the police while he kept her in the store. She refused to give her details to the police until the security guard left the room.

‘She stole 32 bottles of alcohol from a different Sainsbury’s in July, totalling £798. She then went to the Café in the store to read a newspaper – which she had also stolen.

‘She went back but was detained and had a panic attack so paramedics had to take her home.’

Mr Shaw added: ‘She was also detained in Waitrose in July, where she resisted but was held until police arrived.

Al Said was given an 18 month suspended prison sentence and will have to repay Sainsbury’s £1,800 – just over 15 per cent of what she stole 

The thief has attempted to go straight and work as a life coach, giving advice to people so they can ‘start living a life that feels as good as it looks’

‘In another charge she has a co-defendant, Mr Wheatcroft, who pleaded not guilty. They allegedly stole another £2,200 from Sainsbury’s.

‘This was in the form of 58 bottles of alcohol, 15 packets of meat and a number of smaller items.

‘These items were stolen to be sold to fund Ms Al Said’s drug addiction.’

Mitigating, Emily Jarrod told the court: ‘She is a highly, highly educated woman and has worked in the criminal justice system, although you might say that’s worse because she should understand the impact her actions have.

‘She has turned a corner and ended the relationship with Mr Wheatcroft in late 2025.

‘She started work as a life coach and has been living with her mum. She also has regained contact with her sister who she didn’t talk to while in this darker period in her life.’

Sentencing Al Said, Judge Gary Lucie said: ‘You stole almost £12,000 in a period of about a year in this campaign of theft.

‘It’s described as shoplifting but it’s theft. There’s no other way to describe it.

‘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.’

Al Said was instructed to attend 28 rehabilitation days and she has been banned from Sainsbury’s for 18 months.