A SHOPLIFTER who was was too ill to be sentenced last week was bailed by a Swindon judge to go to the NHS walk-in centre less than 400ft from the court building.

Complaining Anna Burns hobbled to the health centre accompanied by a probation officer last Monday.

But she left within minutes after hearing she would have to wait 30 minutes to be seen by a nurse. She said she wanted to walk home to collect her phone charger then call an ambulance.

Burns, 33, had been due to appear before Swindon Crown Court a second time on Friday to be sentenced for a series of shoplifting offences that had put her in breach of a crown court suspended sentence.

When she failed to show up Judge Peter Crabtree issued a warrant for Burns’ arrest.

Prosecuting, Peter Pride said: “Being frank about it, this matter was listed for sentence on Monday and as your honour knows, Ms Burns arrived late.

“You honour was very clear of the need [for her] to be here on Friday.”

John Upton, defending, said his instructing solicitors had not heard from Burns that day.

Judge Crabtree told the barrister: “She is not helping herself to say the least and no one has contacted us today to say where she is.”