Mrs. Clayton's defence raises the possibility that she knew nothing about her lodger Linda Mitchell's shoplifting as she was busy with shop staff in her claim that she had lost her purse. The prosecution is adamant that she distracted the shop staff with claims that her purse had been stolen was a well-rehearsed diversion given that her previous employment was in a similar department store and knew that the ploy was an attempt to assist Mitchell. Linda Mitchell gives evidence in her defence, stating that the store detective was mistaken. The prosecution does its best to discredit Mitchell's lifestyle.
—EdinaJambo