Thief who targeted B&M and Boots in Hartlepool warned she faces prison unless she sorts out her 'cycle of drugs'

Lisa Wallace, of the town’s Pope Grove appeared before Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced for two charges of theft from a shop, which she had previously admitted.

Wallace also pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching a suspended sentence order by carrying out the shoplifting offences.

Nigel Soppit, prosecuting, said on July 5 last year Wallace had stolen several items from B&M and then on September 5 she stole goods to the value of £84.90 from Boots.

Mr Soppit told the court: “She is 45 and has a number of previous convictions for theft.”

The crown court judge in the case warned convicted thief Wallace, 45, that she must take the opportunity to get the help she needs to ‘break this cycle of the drugs and the theft to fund your drugs’.Judge Peter Armstrong had originally deferred sentence to see if Wallace could work with probation services and she appears to have done.

He said: “Things are looking up for you I hope.

“You have to break this cycle of the drugs and the theft to fund your drugs.

“If you don’t the courts eventually feel that it is right to lock people up.

“Take this opportunity to get the help you need.”

The judge gave Wallace a 12-month community order and told her she must take part in a drug rehabilitation programme.