MONTEGO BAY, St James — A Montego Bay woman’s shopping spree turned into an expensive mistake when she was caught on camera at Progressive Foods in Fairview, allegedly pocketing nearly $12,000 worth of wine, cheesecake, and ice cream.

Sherika Whyte appeared before Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday, charged with simple larceny.

Court documents reveal that on January 17, around 1:15 pm, Whyte picked up a bottle of Napa Valley wine, two slices of cheesecake, and cookies-and-cream ice cream. The total value of the items amounted to approximately $11,896. Surveillance footage reportedly captured her placing the items in her handbag.

When stopped at the store’s exit Whyte could not produce a receipt. She later told authorities, “Mi sorry. Mi did hungry, and this is the reason why I did it.”

This, however, was not her first encounter with the law for theft. The judge didn’t mince words.

“That’s not hunger. It’s not hungry you hungry, ma’am, it’s just thief yuh thief,” she told Whyte, noting the high value of the stolen items.

In court, Whyte explained she doesn’t drink wine and admitted she doesn’t understand her behaviour. She confessed, “If I go to prison and come back I’m not sure I will not do it again because I don’t know if it’s a psychological problem.”

A social enquiry report was ordered by the judge, sentencing was deferred until March 12, and Whyte was remanded in custody.