A RECOVERING heroin addict with a long-standing drug habit has appeared in court for shoplifting.
Linda Dodsworth, 28, admitted stealing £60 worth of alcohol from the Co-op on West Auckland Road, Darlington, when she appeared before magistrates at Newton Aycliffe.
Mitigating, Sonny Lawson said that although her previous offending was largely driven by her drug habit, Dodsworth was keeping to her methadone prescription and had stolen the booze to sell because her ex-partner had cancelled their joint benefit claim.
He added: “She does appear to be somebody who is heading in the right direction, getting the support she needs and addressing the root cause of her problems; the heroin addiction.”
After hearing a report from the probation service, magistrates imposed a six-month community order with supervision and told Dodsworth, of Grange Road, Darlington, to pay £60 compensation.
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