A PROLIFIC shoplifter who expected to be sent to prison has walked free from court.

Barbara Taylor brought a carrier bag full of clothes with her when she appeared at Darlington Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to admit three charges of theft.

The 35-year-old, of High Northgate, Darlington, stole £85 worth of Me to You merchandise from Clintons on October 17, two Bosch power tools worth £104.96 from B&Q on October 19, and an Angel perfume gift set from Boots worth £49.99 on October 21.

The court heard Taylor – a long-term drug addict - was given a one-year community order with a supervision requirement and drug rehabilitation in early October for similar offences.

Mo Sibert, from the Probation Service, said: “She has come dressed for the occasion thinking she could be given a custodial sentence today.”

However, magistrates instead imposed a 12-week curfew banning her from leaving her house from 3pm to 6am on Mondays, 4pm to 4am on Tuesdays, 10am to noon, and 4pm to 4am on Wednesdays, 3pm to 6am on Thursdays, 10am to noon, and 3pm to 4am on Fridays, 11am to 1pm, and 3pm to 4am on Saturdays, and 11am to 1pm, and 3pm to 4am on Sundays.

The curfew, which will be electronically monitored, will not apply on Christmas Day and allows time for Taylor to continue picking up her methadone, attend probation and job centre appointments, as well as her appointments with NECA.

Magistrates also allowed her existing community order to continue and ordered Taylor to pay a £60 victim surcharge.

Chairwoman of the bench, Patricia Bacon, told Taylor: “We have done this as a direct alternative to custody. If anything goes wrong with this order you will be back to court.”

No costs were imposed.