A St Paul’s Cray woman says she is so poor that she will steal her weekly shop from a supermarket tomorrow afternoon to draw attention to her plight.

Jean Roberts, of Petersham Drive, plans to shoplift from Sidcup’s Tesco Superstore and get caught as a publicity stunt to raise awareness of families struggling at Christmas.

The 58-year-old said she has had her benefit payments withheld due to her partner moving out of her house for a short time.

Ms Roberts said her home is without gas or electricity as she has been unable to pay her bills after not receiving her usual payments.

She told News Shopper: “I am so angry I just can’t get any help anywhere.

“I have been phoning everywhere I can think of to try and get help.

“I am going round shoplifting and I want them to catch me on the way out.

“It’s the only way I can draw attention. I have tried everything else.”

Ms Roberts, a mother-of-one, said she worked as a carer for many years but has been unable to since 2008 due to illness.

She said: "Why have they withheld my part of the money?

“None of my circumstances have changed. It’s just my partner’s.

“I’ve been left with no money a week before Christmas. I really don’t know where to turn next.”

Ms Roberts plans to fill a trolley with her basic weekly shop.

She said: “I won’t be putting any goodies in it. I am just going to put in my normal shop. I am not shoplifting for greed.”