WITHIN an hour of court starting, a 32-year-old woman had been dealt with for shoplifting, released and caught shoplifting again.

Blackburn magistrates heard Heidi Marie Wilson had a serious heroin habit which led to her offending.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Wilson appeared in court for shoplifting and was then caught at 11am stealing perfume from Debenhams.

“Court does not start until 10am so clearly she has gone straight from this building and offended again,” said Miss Allan.

“She was remanded in custody until her appearance today to be sentenced.”

Wilson was in breach of two conditional discharges and post-sentence supervision.

Imran Hussain, defending, said there was a sad backdrop to his client’s current predicament. She had her first child when she was 17 and went on to have three more.

“For 10 years she was not in any kind of trouble as she brought up her children,” said Mr Hussain.

“Amazingly all four of them had muscular dystrophy and she struggled to cope. He partner left her, she was not getting any support and eventually all the children were taken from her.”

Mr Hussain said Wilson then began a relationship with a heroin user. “She began to use and quickly became a serious drug addict, which is reflected in her record of offending,” said Mr Hussain. He said she was desperate to get herself clean of drugs.

“She has not seen her children for years but hopes that in time they may want to trace her,” said Mr Hussain.

Wilson, of no fixed address, admitted three charges of shoplifting. She was jailed for 16 weeks and ordered to pay a £150 criminal court charge and an £85 victim surcharge.