A WOMAN stole so she could get drunk because she could not cope with being in an abusive relationship, a court heard.

Elizabeth Egan, aged 45, of All Saints Road, Worcester, admitted three counts of theft when she appeared before Worcester magistrates.

She stole a handbag worth £69 from Marks and Spencer on January 15 and again on January 17.

She then took a box of Oxo cubes and a can of lager to the value of £5.06 from the Co-op in Angel Street, Worcester, on January 25.

Paul Stanley, defending, said she had been captured on CCTV during all three thefts.

He said: “She committed the later offence while on bail for the first.

“Her offences go back around 10 years.

“Her offending, whether it is for assault or dishonesty matters, is alcohol-related.

“They’re alcohol-related because she suffers domestic abuse in a long term relationship.

“Every single offence you see here is her in drink or stealing to drink.

“She is stealing to get drunk because she can’t cope with the relationship and the abuse it brings with it.”

Mr Stanley said she was on medication for anxiety and depression and was “very apologetic”.

Magistrates ordered a full pre-sentence report to be prepared by the probation service. Egan is scheduled to be sentenced on February 22.

She was granted bail on condition she does not enter shops in Worcester city centre as defined by a map with the exception of Kitsons pharmacy in Broad Street where she needs to pick up a prescription.

Egan was also bailed on condition she co-operates fully with the probation service in the preparation of the report.