A MOTHER of two who begged magistrates for a last chance to put her life of crime behind her got it -- and has three months to show she means business.

Drug addict and ex-convict Kim Cowburn had gone shoplifting at Woolworths last December because she was ashamed and embarrassed she could not buy presents for her children at Christmas, Burnley magistrates heard.

Two months later, she went out trying to steal again after taking medication and other substances and did not even know what day it was.

Cowburn now realised for the first time it was up to her to kick her drugs habit, whereas in the past she had been unwilling, or unable, to accept responsibility for her actions, the court heard.

The defendant had sentence deferred for three months, until June 11, after admitting two counts of theft last December, two of attempted theft in February, resisting or obstructing a police officer and possessing heroin.

Cowburn, of Thursby Road, Nelson, was told she had to prove she could address her drug habit and stop offending.

She was told to pursue residential treatment for her addiction, continue with non-residential treatment and help, carry on looking for a home out of the area and not to commit any more offences.

Dermot Woodhead, defending, said Cowburn accepted if she was sent to jail she had nobody to blame but herself.

In the past, custody had not helped and she would be released without any accommodation or support. A return to crime would be inevitable.

The defendant felt she had had a hard life and that people did not know how difficult it had been for her. In the past she had been unable, or unwilling, to accept responsibility for her actions.

She accepted the shoplifting offences were premeditated and she had ended up remanded in custody for 21 hours.

Mr Woodhead told the court that over the last few months Cowburn, whose children lived with her parents, had shown an encouraging change of attitude.

Her doctor had put her in touch with a detoxification unit, but there were difficulties related to funding. It was the first time she had tried to cope with her problems off her own bat.

The penny had dropped, maybe belatedly and Cowburn now realised she had to do so something about her behaviour.