A MOTHER of three who helped herself to a shopper's handbag in Argos had almost 40 convictions for theft, a court heard.
Burnley magistrates were told how drug addict Susan Haworth, who has since been given a two year anti-social behaviour order banning her from town centre shops, was captured on CCTV but could not remember doing it.
The defendant, recently given a six-month community order, was given another similar order with drug rehabilitation. Haworth, of Reed Street, Burnley, who admitted theft, must pay £260 compensation.
The court was told Haworth took the bag, containing a £200 mobile phone and £200 cash in January. She had 52 previous convictions.
John Greenwood, defending, said Haworth got a six-month order and the ASBO in February. The handbag theft pre-dated then.
Haworth had a long-standing drug problem and had been under the influence of illicit substances at the time.
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