A lonely accountancy student stole perfume worth £1,285 because her friends went home for Christmas and she could not afford to fly back to China.
Nottingham magistrates heard yesterday that the offence could wreck the career of Meiyi Tsoi – who risked being ordered home by her parents.
She was given an 18-month conditional discharge after she admitted theft from the Debenhams store in the city on December 12.
The court heard that the 23-year-old was in the third year of an accountancy and finance masters' degree at the University of Nottingham. She has another year to go.
Kim Lee, in mitigation, said Tsoi wanted to hand out the 43 stolen items as gifts.
"She was in the situation where all her friends and fellow students had gone home for the Christmas holidays.
"Unfortunately, she was not able to return to China because her family decided it would be better for her to stay in this country and work and also to save money on flights.
"This young lady was feeling very lonely and extremely isolated. She took perfume to give some of it as presents to fellow students.
"She saw it in a sense of keeping and making friendships at a time when she was desperately lonely."
Her parents sent her £26,000 annually for her study fees and living expenses.
Her 66-year-old father runs a factory in southern China and her mother is an investment adviser.
Mr Lee said many court sentences could "affect her professionally and disbar her from a position of trust". A conditional discharge would be removed from records when it expired, he said.
Tsoi of Fletcher Gate, had not told her parents and Mr Lee added: "If they became aware, they will be extremely angry and let down."
Judith Kirkham, prosecuting, said Tsoi collected 43 items from several counters in the store, including Clinique.
She was detained at the scene and all the goods were recovered.
Tsoi, who had never been in trouble before, must pay £85 prosecution costs and a £15 government surcharge.
