Woman sentenced two months jail for 'criminally damaging' packet of Pringles

A woman in Ireland has been sentenced to two months jail for opening a packet of Pringles before paying for it. 

Judge O’Shea gave her the sentence for 'çriminally damaging' the packet of Pringles and for her 'smart alec behaviour'.

Reports say, that the twenty-five year-old Kathleen McDonagh was at the Tesco store and in queue at the check-out holding the Pringles packet. She had been previously banned from entering the store but she still went into the store and got the snack.

The security at the store who were monitoring the CCTV camera spotted her and went up to her. However, the moment she saw the guards coming, she ripped the packet open.

READ Hero Paragliding Pilot Dies Trying To Save Passenger After Chute Snaps Mid-air

The security officer Inspector at the shop, Ronan Kennelly, explained the incident. 

"As the security officers approached her she opened the Pringles and removed the foil top and 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 she wanted to buy the Pringles but she had no permission to be in the store,” he said.

Judge O''Shea gave her a two month sentence than the four months one after hearing her plea.

McDonagh's lawyer argued that the young woman was recently married, and five months pregnant, and had anxiety issues. She had also taken hair-dressing lessons and been working at a local hairdressing salon for past five months.

WATCH: Nerve-wracking Video Of Cyclist Narrowly Escaping Being Hit By Train

The judge said that he commuted the sentence as out of the context it was not a serious offence but since she had previous similar convictions, the matter was of concern. “It’s difficult to see that as anything but smart alec behaviour,” he said.

McDonagh has 31 previous convictions including 14 for theft and two for criminal damage.

Next time, when you feel like tearing open a packet of Pringles, or Lays or any eatables at a store where you have been barred, go to a different store!