A FLINTSHIRE woman has been spared jail after carrying out a spate of shoplifting offences to fund her heroin use.

Sarah World, of Ffordd Beuno in Holywell, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The 48-year-old pleaded guilty to 11 offences of theft - all of which were committed at Tesco in Holywell between June 2022 and March 2023.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, told the court that the defendant had entered the store on numerous occasions and concealed or de-tagged items before taking them without making payment.

The vast majority of the stock taken was alcohol but she also took other items including a cheesecake and Maltesers.

The total value of the items taken came to £1,427.11.

Probation officer Jamie Siddall told the court: "The offences are motivated by a need to fund a heroin addiction.

"She uses four times a week at roughly £50 a day."

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Mr Siddall said the defendant was in receipt of benefits - which clearly didn't allow her to sustain her habit.

He continued: "It is unfortunate she finds herself before the court. Up to 2018, she had a poor record of offending for this type of offence.

"This has been linked to a heroin addiction which has been a feature for almost half of her life.

"Up to last June, she was taking a methadone script and she secured accommodation."

He added her "very good progress" saw a setback which led her to relapse and re-offend in a "prolific" way.

Alex Mackenzie, defending, said: "So many women who come before these courts are victims in and of themselves of their circumstances.

"She has done well to get where she is, but with that setback; it's very difficult when things go wrong when we are doing our best.

"She wants the help again. This is clearly someone who is capable of rehabilitation; she's done it before."

Brian Manford, Chair of the Magistrates, told the defendant: "Miss World, this can't go on can it - 11 cases?

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The Leader:

"In view of the total number of offences, we feel this falls in the custody bracket and with your history of offending and degree of planning, we sentence you to 12 weeks in custody.

"However, we suspend this for 12 months as we feel there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation."

The court handed down a six month drug rehabilitation requirement and 15 days of rehabilitation activity.

She was ordered to pay £500 towards compensation for Tesco.

"This needs to stop," Mr Manford told World.