A mother-of-four was targeted by drug addicts who forced her into crime, a judge was told.

Susie Barton stole perfume valued at £70 from a Worcester store and meat from a supermarket in Droitwich.

She had earlier been given a deferred sentence by magistrates for stealing a £100 teddy bear from a shop, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Barton’s lawyer Samantha Lamsdale said the 27-year-old was a vulnerable woman who only became a heroin addict in June last year. It led to her weight plummeting to six stone. She said: “Local addicts targeted her and took her benefits. They forced her into crime and she acted under duress.”

Barton, of Hunters Place, Droitwich, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and admitted breaching a deferred sentence, a suspended jail term for handling stolen goods, a conditional discharge and a community order.

Judge Michael Cullum said she had shown a lack of response to court orders in the past and jailed her for 32 weeks.

He revoked all the orders and said he hoped Barton would seek drug rehabilitation help on her release.

Barton stole pork from Waitrose in Droitwich on October 3 last year, hiding it in a pram, said Stephen Davies, prosecuting. She was detained outside the store.

On November 24 she stole the perfume from Debenhams in Worcester, concealing it in her clothing after removing a security tag. She was subsequently arrested in a street nearby.

She had been given the suspended sentence for handling a watch and cufflinks – stolen in a burglary – worth up to £4,000. Her partner, who is now in jail, was charged with the raid.

Miss Lamsdale said Barton had suffered extreme domestic violence at the hands of an ex-partner, for which he was now in prison. From his cell he had then sent her an eight-page letter containing threats.

Sobbing Barton shouted out in court that her jail sentence would mean she would lose her home. She has already served nearly six weeks in custody on remand, which will count towards time served.