A woman is sentenced 23 charges, including criminal damage, two alleged threats to kill, theft, making off without payment, fraud by false representation and disorderly behaviour.
Deborah Letters, of Gorteen Crescent, Limavady, is charged with damaging a window and threatening two people on 19 October 2025. She also faces allegations relating to six fuel thefts, five incidents of making off without payment and a fraud allegation connected to a “no means to pay” form.
Seven further theft charges relate to alleged grocery thefts from McCools SuperValu Ballymoney during June and July 2024. Letters is also accused lately of disorderly behaviour in the vicinity of Old Distillery Gardens, Limavady, on 19 June this year.
Appearing in the dock of Coleraine Magistrates’ court on Monday, 28 September, the court heard that, in the early hours of 19 June, police were called to Old Biscuit Gardens in Limavady after reports of a woman shouting and screaming in the street. Officers found Ms Letters holding a metal object above her head. She appeared highly intoxicated and continued shouting after being placed in a police vehicle.
Ms Letters pleaded guilty to the disorderly behaviour charge.
She also faced two counts of making threats to kill and one count of criminal damage following an incident at the home of her former partner. The court heard she allegedly threatened him and his partner before throwing an object through a living-room window. The cost of repairing the window was put at £162.27.
A separate series of offences involved unpaid fuel transactions at convenience stores in Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portrush. The court heard six amounts were outstanding, ranging from £21.07 to £55.86.
Ms Letters also faced seven thefts from McCooks SuperValu, with £484.32 sought in restitution. The prosecution said CCTV showed her placing unscanned groceries into bags and leaving the store without paying. During police interview, she reportedly admitted: “Yes, it’s me. I admit it’s me on the CCTV taking the stuff.”
Defence barrister Mr McKeever told the court that Ms Letters had previously engaged positively with probation, although she had missed appointments with addiction services.
Judge King imposed a two-year Article 7 order prohibiting Letters from pestering, harassing, intimidating or annoying the victim, or encouraging anyone else to do so. She is also prohibited from entering the victims home.
The judge declined to impose a further restraining order in relation to Letters, saying it would not be proportionate as Letters was already on bail on condition that she reside elsewhere.
“I am taking a gamble on you,” Judge King told Letters. “Do not let yourself, or me, down.”
Judge Peter King deferred sentence on Ms Letters until 21 December, giving her 12 weeks to remain offence-free. If she succeeds, the court intends to impose an 18-month probation order along with compensation.
He warned that if she returned to court having committed another offence, the proposed probation order would be withdrawn and imprisonment would follow.
