A WOMAN stole booze worth more than £1,400 during four visits to the Booths store in Barrowford.

Blackburn magistrates heard on the day she was due to appear in court for those offences Jolyne Sturdy was caught shoplifting from Marks and Spencer.

Sturdy, 34, of Cromer Grove, Burnley, pleaded guilty to four charges of shoplifting from Booths and one from Marks and Spencer.

She was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months with a community order for 12 weeks with 25 days rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £300 compensation to Booths.

The chairman of the magistrates told Sturdy she had come within "a hair's breadth" of going straight to prison.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said on December 9 Sturdy and two other people went into Booths and helped themselves to alcohol worth £116.

They went back the next day and stole booze worth £344. On January 10 she stole £548 worth of booze and £415 worth the following day.

"She was bailed to appear before Burnley magistrates yesterday but did not turn up," said Miss Allan.

"She was arrested yesterday as she left Marks and Spencer with £136 worth of meat."

Miss Allan said Sturdy had a history of shoplifting and was subject to a conditional discharge for similar offences.

Nick Dearing, defending, said his client was a vulnerable individual whose life had been blighted by a relationship with a "nasty and violent" man which resulted in mental and physical abuse over a number of years.

"She started to drink in 2013 and in recent years has had periods of homelessness," said Mr Dearing.