A 33-year-old Coleford woman who committed a string of shoplifting offences to fund an addiction has been jailed for six months and banned from entering all but two shops in the town for the next three years.

Samantha Henderson of Blakes Way pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on November 14 to eighteen thefts in a one month period from mid-October to mid-November.

Five of her thefts were from Lloyds Pharmacy in Coleford, another four from the 'Proper Job' store, four from the Co-op and one from a charity shop in the town.

The total value of all the goods she stole was just over £950.

Jailing her for a total of 26 weeks, the magistrates said she had to serve an immediate term of custody because of her persistent thieving, the loss suffered by the shops and the fact that her behaviour was aggravated by her previous offending record.

The court also made a three year criminal behaviour order against Henderson. It bans her from entering any retail premises at any time in Coleford, except Tesco in the High Street. She must not enter any pharmacy in Coleford with the exception of the Day Lewis Pharmacy in Pyart Court. She is barred from going within the location of Bells Hotel and Golf Club, Coleford.

Magistrates also ordered her to pay a £154 victim services surcharge.

Henderson admitted stealing:

*Perfume worth £48 from Lloyds Pharmacy, Coleford, on October 11;

*Food of unknown value frtom 'Proper Job' in Coleford on October 16;

*Nescafe and Gorilla tape worth £11 from Proper Job on October 18;

*Complan and powdered milk to a total value of £27.68 from Lloyds Pharmacy on October 21;

*Two t-shirts worth £130 from Bells Golf Club on October 23;

*A bag, indulgence set and bath bomb set valued at £90 from Lloyds Pharmacy on October 24;

*Food worth £2.50 from Proper Job on October 24;

*Hamper and bag, value £80, from Lloyds Pharmacy on October 28;

*Converse shoes, value £10, from Great Oaks charity shop on November 1;

*Alcohol valued at £46 from the Co-op on November 1;

*Alcohol worth £89 from the Co-op on November 3;

*Alcohol priced at £17.50 from the Co-op on November 4;

*Alcohol valued at £22.00 from the Co-op on November 5;

*Alpen Bar, Nativity acrylic and swirling train light, total value £27.98, from Proper Job on November 6;

*Batteries, beef and steak worth £200 from Lidl on November 7;

*Ice cream worth £2.50 from Mills newsagents on November 7;

*Lindt truffles valued at £22 from Tesco on November 8;

*Ted Baker and Michael Buble gift sets, total value £125, from Lloyds Pharmacy on November 12.

She also admitted one charge of criminal damage to a bottle of Bells whisky worth £15.50 at the Co-op on November 12.