A SHOPLIFTER who stole perfume to fund her drug habit has been given the chance to get her life back on track.

Susan Smith, aged 27, of Bridge Street, Worcester admitted theft when she appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Smith stole £396 worth of perfume from Debenhams in the High Street on September 18 and 19 this year. on September 18, Smith entered the store at 5pm and placed two Dior fragrances in her jeans. The following day she stole a third perfume.

Smith has 21 previous convictions and 44 theft offences on her record. She is subject to a post sentence provision order, but has failed to attend any appointments with the probation service.

Mark Lister, defending, described the shoplifting as low level offending and told the court the theft had been a direct result of his client’s addiction to heroin.

He said: “After being released from custody she had no access to a methadone prescription; she has got an appointment with Swanswell to sort that out.”

“I would suggest that a custodial sentence would make her more vulnerable to reoffending due to her, in that scenario, not having a prescription and having no fixed abode.”

“She has a good incentive to engage with services this time if not for herself but for her three children.The children don’t live with her, but with her parents. If she is able to kick the habit she can be rehabilitated with her children and break this cycle of reoffending.”

Magistrates handed her a six-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, a six-week curfew and ordered her to pay £396 compensation.