Young mum jailed

Samantha Bradley, 22, pinched deodorant, tanning lotion and cod liver oil from Somerfield and Boots in an effort to raise cash to buy heroin.

She was caught red-handed with the goods after leaving the stores without paying for items worth a total of around 50.

Prosecutor Rebecca Wood told Lewes magistrates: "On September 14 the defendant was seen to enter Somerfield in Devonshire Road in Bexhill and select two roll-on deodorants and three cans of anti-perspirant.

"She put them in a bag she was carrying and walked out with no attempt to pay.

"She was arrested and when searched she was also found to be in possession of some Ambre Solaire lotion.

"At the custody centre a further Ambre Solaire was found and some Seven Seas cod liver oil.

"She admitted in interview stealing from Somerfield and Boots in Bexhill."

Magistrates were told that Bradley was subsequently released on bail but arrested again on September 23 after shoplifting from Boots in Lewes.

Miss Wood said: "She said she was under the influence of illegal substances during the commission of the offences.

"She has 18 previous offences of theft on her record and 11 offences were committed while on bail."

Bradley, of Percival Road, Eastbourne, admitted three charges of shoplifting when she appeared in court on Wednesday.

Magistrates heard that she was only released from prison in June after being jailed for breaching a community order imposed for earlier offences.

Alison Reeby, defending, said: "She has a history of drug misuse in her background, hence her long list of previous convictions.

"They are mostly thefts to get money for drugs.

"She started using drugs when she was 13 and when she was 15 she started using heroin.

"She became involved with a man who is the father of her four-year-old daughter and he is also a drug user and is currently serving a prison sentence.

"She came out of prison in June and things have changed significantly since then.

"While in custody she was able to reflect on things and realised she wanted to change.

"She sought some help and saw the community drugs team and they were able to give her a methadone prescription and she remains on that.

"When she came out she went to live with her parents who are extremely supportive.

"Things seemed to be going extremely well but unfortunately she is finding it extremely difficult to cope on the level of methadone she was being prescribed.

"She was going to supplement it with illegal drug use and the items stolen would have helped that.

"She has been in custody since her arrest and is adamant she wants to be back in the community with her parents and her daughter."

Magistrates told Bradley that they accepted her latest thefts were impulsive and low value but that jail was the "only viable option".

They sentenced her to a total of six weeks in prison.