A woman who infamously branded herself the UK's 'poshest thief' has walked free from court after stealing £12,000 worth of premium alcohol from Sainsbury's during a nine-month shoplifting campaign.
A Serial Offender's Latest Spree
Pauline Al Said, 35, from Southampton, was handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence at Southampton Crown Court for the high-value thefts. The court heard she targeted the supermarket chain six times, stealing expensive vodka, gin, prosecco, and wine to fund a drug addiction.
To conceal her actions, Al Said, a former lecturer at Bath Spa University, would hide the bottles in her shopping trolley beneath Disney dresses and dressing gowns. In one audacious instance, she even visited the store's cafe to read a newspaper she had stolen.
Judge's Remarkable Comments
Despite the scale and duration of the thefts, Judge Gary Lucie decided against an immediate custodial sentence. He described Al Said as a "highly intelligent woman" who "could do a lot of good" and noted her "genuine remorse."
Judge Lucie stated: "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." He justified a 44-week custodial term but suspended it for 18 months, believing she would not comply with a community order.
Previous Crimes and Consequences
This is not Al Said's first encounter with the law for theft. In 2024, she was convicted of stealing over £1,000 worth of Le Creuset cookware, wine, gin, and premium steaks. On that occasion, she and her husband received a £2,500 fine after also raiding a garden centre and Marks & Spencer.
For her latest offences, the court ordered additional measures alongside the suspended sentence. Al Said, who now uses the name Pauline Tusien, must:
- Repay Sainsbury's £1,800 – a fraction of the total stolen.
- Attend 28 rehabilitation days.
- Adhere to a ban from entering any Sainsbury's store for the duration of her sentence.
In mitigation, her defence barrister, Emily Jarrod, said Al Said was a "highly, highly educated woman" who had "turned a corner and ended the relationship" with her former husband, which was described as toxic.
Since her conviction, Al Said has launched a website offering life and career mentoring, claiming she can "help people find clarity, when things feel complicated." Whether this marks a genuine new chapter remains to be seen, as she continues to avoid prison for her serial shoplifting.
