THE drug addicted daughter of a Darwen businessman went on a £2,500 spending spree using her mother's bank card.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Kelly Stott also sold or pawned £4,961 worth of property she had stolen from their house while the couple were on holiday.

Stott, 25, of Clover Terrace, Darwen, pleaded guilty to theft of a lawnmower, a power washer, a camcorder, a grass strimmer and jewellery belonging to Kenneth Stott and obtaining £50 worth of goods from United Norwest by falsely representing that she was Helen Stott.

She asked for 13 further offences of obtaining property by deception to be taken into account and was remanded on bail until May 21 for pre-sentence reports.

Paula Grogan, prosecuting, said Mr and Mrs Stott went on holiday leaving their daughter at their house. While they were away they were contacted by their son who said Mrs Stott's bank was trying to contact her because they were concerned her bank card had been used on numerous occasions and a large quantity of goods obtained.

Mr and Mrs Stott asked their son to check if any items were missing from the house and he discovered the property had gone.

"By this time Kelly had left and, although her parents did not know where she was, they suspected she had gone back with her former boyfriend," said Miss Grogan.

"She was eventually arrested and when interviewed admitted that she had stolen the property and either pawned it or sold it to buy drugs.

"She also admitted that she had taken her mother's Midland Bank cash card and used it on a number of occasions."

Miss Grogan said some of the property had been recovered but the total still outstanding was worth £2,300.

Simon Farnsworth, defending, said Stott accepted that she had a heroin problem.

"The motive behind these offences was to feed that habit," said Mr Farnsworth.

"She had a £30 to £50 a day habit and she ran into debt," said Mr Farnsworth.

"She obtained drugs from dealers and could not pay them and she felt frightened and threatened."

Mr Farnsworth said Stott had gone out with the police and helped them to recover as much of the property as possible.

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