A 20-STONE mother of three could achieve orgasm only through

shoplifting, a court was told yesterday.

Julie Amiri, 35, gained sexual satisfaction from being chased by

police officers.

Uniforms, police interviews, flashing blue lights and sirens all

turned her on, psychologist Dr Neil Brener told Chichester Crown Court

in West Sussex.

Amiri's bizarre obsession drove her to embark on shoplifting

expeditions merely to gain attention and sexual gratification, said Dr

Brener.

The disorder came to light when she was arrested after a police car

chase following thefts from British Home Stores and Marks and Spencer in

Worthing, West Sussex, said Mr Nicholas Hall, prosecuting.

''She says that this is the way she gets her orgasms.''

But he claimed Amiri had invented the obsession in order to excuse her

thieving.

Amiri, of Staines, Middlesex, told the court: ''I had my first orgasm

in the back of a police car, aged 28 years. After that I was around the

shops every day.''

Dr Brener told the court that Amiri suffered from pathological

shoplifting -- a rare but genuine disorder. He said Amiri had attended

his groups at London's Charing Cross Hospital to try to cope with the

obsession.

Amiri had pled not guilty to two charges of theft from Marks and

Spencer and British Homes Stores last year.

Judge Michael Baker fined her #100 for each of the thefts.