A WOMAN who stole her father’s mountain bike from a locked garden shed thought she had permission to take it, a court was told.

Amy Daniel, aged 29, pleaded guilty to stealing the bike, worth £150, on June 9 last year and stealing £25.21 of items, from WH Smith on October 21, which were later recovered.

Matt Dodson, prosecuting, said between 9.30am and 6.30pm on June 9, an offender or offenders went to the address in Newtown Road, Worcester.

Mr Dodson said: “Someone had entered that property, prized the lock off the garden shed and removed a yellow mountain bike.

“The defendant was identified by fingerprints on the windows which were known to be fresh because her father confirmed he had cleaned the windows before leaving the house that morning.”

On July 15 a warrant was executed and the bike was recovered from an address in Evesham.

Daniel, of Lancelott Court, Pershore, was arrested and admitted she took the bike.

In interview she said she had gone to the address and heard the TV on but no one was home.

She picked up a pair of garden shears and used them to force the padlock off, before travelling back to Evesham on the train, believing she had her father’s permission to take the bike.

Amer Hussain, defending, said a lot of her offending was down to alcohol.

He said: “Alcohol plays a very significant role in her offending and her lifestyle which will never be resolved until she stops using it.

“But she has finally realised this after a doctor made her aware of the personal danger she has put herself in.

“Everything in her life is a drip, drip situation and she uses alcohol to cope, but she is keen to emphasise that she has come to terms with the issues in her life and is dealing with them.”

Daniel was given a six- month community order with a six-month supervision requirement.