A PREGNANT woman who opened a £1.30 tube of Pringles in Tesco has been JAILED for two months.

Kathleen McDonagh, 25, ripped off the foil lid when a security guard refused to let her buy it and ordered her to leave.

Kathleen McDonagh had been barred from the Tesco store (stock image) Credit: PA:Press Association

A court heard McDonagh had previously been barred from the Tesco store in Cork, Ireland, because of her behaviour.

But staff spotted her queuing up at the self-checkout with the Pringles on December 27, 2016.

Inspector Ronan Kennelly said a Tesco worker approached and asked her to leave.

Before they got to her she popped open the can of Pringles and removed the foil top off the can.

Kathleen McDonagh pleaded guilty to criminal damage on the packet of Pringles Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Inspector Kennelly told the court: "As the security officers approached her she said, 'I opened it so you have to leave me pay for it.'

"It was not fit for resale with a loss of €1.50 – she said wanted to buy the Pringles but she had no permission to be in the store."

McDonagh pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Cork District Court.

A judge heard her 31 previous offences include 14 convictions for theft and two for criminal damage. She has also convictions for handling stolen property.

Her lawyer Shane Collins Daly said she was a hairdressing student who is currently working for her mother.

He appealed for leniency, saying his client was five months pregnant and a newlywed. The court heard that she suffered from issues relating to anxiety in the past.

Sentencing, Judge Brian O'Shea said that taken out of context the offence could look on the lower end of the scale in terms of seriousness.

He said it was difficult to view it as anything other than "smart Alec" behaviour.

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But given the background to the case and the multitude of previous convictions it moved up the scale.

He said Ms McDonagh had been given the benefit of suspended sentences in the past and they didn't appear to work for her.

He jailed her four months suspending the last two months of the sentence.

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