'Cut it out': Judge warns prolific shoplifter she's heading for jail

Author: Belinda Feek,
Publish Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2026, 4:09pm

A judge has lambasted a prolific shoplifter, telling her to stop ripping off retailers and use her benefit money to feed her children, rather than paying reparations for stolen goods.

Sharlene Barton was in Hamilton District Court before Judge Noel Cocurullo today after stealing more than $700 of goods from Rebel Sport in Tauranga.

Arriving late to court didn’t help her cause either.

“She’s just got to stop stealing,” the judge told Barton’s lawyer, Hannah Cuthill, after she explained why her client was late.

“It’s really simple.”

The police National Retail Investigation Support Unit has identified Barton as “one of the highest risk” nationwide retail crime offenders.

During her latest spree, on February 28, Barton and an unknown woman went into Rebel Sport and put various items in a basket.

Barton then put some items in her handbag and left without paying, before going back in and doing it again.

While Barton stole items totalling $698.94, staff recovered $89.98 of property.

When questioned, Barton said she “took two pairs of scuffs and the baby shoes”.

In discussion with Cuthill, Judge Cocurullo didn’t hold back his frustration at dealing with someone who “rips off retailers”.

Cuthill explained that while Barton’s family circumstances had changed, she had been chipping away at her outstanding community work hours from previous offending.

Judge Cocurullo said he would cancel those hours, but today she had to confirm whether she wanted to go to jail or stop stealing.

“I just want one answer to one thing.

“When is she going to stop stealing? Can you approach her and ask her,” the judge told Cuthill.

Hamilton District Court Judge Noel Cocurullo is also the Waikato executive judge for the District Court. Photo / Dani Zollickhofer

After checking, Cuthill said Barton didn’t want to go to prison.

“I have had enough of young women who want to go out and rip off retailers,” the judge told her.

“It’s four months’ jail or stop stealing,” he said.

Judge Cocurullo said Barton needed to “grow up”, and her issues were no different from any other Kiwi family juggling kids, but that didn’t see those parents out stealing.

“I just call it like I see it,” the judge said.

Cuthill reassured the judge that her client was motivated to stay out of jail.

But that wasn’t what he wanted to hear.

“I want her to be motivated to stop stealing,” he said.

“I want her to be motivated to stop ripping people off.”

Discussing reparation, Cuthill said Barton was on a benefit but could pay it off.

The judge then told Barton the money she received through her benefit was meant to go towards food for her child, not paying reparation for stolen goods.

“Cut it out,” he said.

“Any more stealing from you, I’m your judge.”

Judge Cocurullo warned he would be monitoring her.

He sentenced Barton to 12 months’ supervision, two months’ community detention, and ordered her to pay reparations of $698.94.

“More stealing, and I will jail you.”

Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter based in Waikato. She has worked at NZME for 11 years and has been a journalist for 22.