A kleptomaniac who was described as being powerless to control her actions at times was discharged without conviction on a shoplifting charge on Friday.
The Central Otago woman, whose name was suppressed, appeared before Judge Stephen Coyle in the Alexandra District Court.
She had been diagnosed with kleptomania and was sometimes unable to ''control the urge'' to steal, when rational thought disappeared, Judge Coyle said.
''You hadn't suffered an attack, for want of a better word, for several years ... ''
Prosecutor Tim Hambleton said the woman had stolen a piece of clothing from a store on May 11, placing the clothing under her jacket. The item was later found at her home. She told police she was ashamed and embarrassed and had no control over her actions at times.
''She has an affliction but she's doing something about it,'' Judge Coyle said.
The woman was receiving counselling, had completed a course with a psychotherapist and had other strategies in place, such as never shopping on her own.
She had several convictions for shoplifting and had been sentenced to supervision in the past for some offences and received deferred sentences for others.
The consequences of entering a conviction would be ''devastating'' to the woman and her family and disproportionate to the gravity of the offending, Judge Coyle said.
One of those consequences was the likely loss of her job.
