Perfume theft to fund heroin habit

A shoplifter who stole perfume worth more than £800 from Burnley Boots was stealing to fund her heroin habit, the town's magistrates court was told.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Mar 2017, 12:22 BST
Updated 24th Mar 2017, 10:51 BST
Burnley Magistrates' CourtBurnley Magistrates' Court
Burnley Magistrates' Court

Lisa Duckworth had been an addict for many years and now used one or two bags of the drug a day.

She had been bailed after helping herself to scent worth £613.50 on January 25th, but instead of turning up for court on February 14th, she went back into the store and took £236 worth of fragrance.

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The defendant had been given an 18-month conditional discharge on January 3rd for two counts of thieving and was in breach of it, the court heard.

Duckworth (35) of Clarence Street, Burnley, admitted two charges of theft and one of failing to surrender.

She was given a 12-month community order, with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and was fined £190, with £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

District Judge Alexandra Simmonds told the defendant there was quite a picture building up of her committing serious, planned offences, in breach of court orders.

She warned her: "Very soon a custodial sentence is going to be the only option available to the court."