Addict stole to fund habit (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Addict stole to fund habit
4:47pm Tuesday 11th December 2012 in News By Alexa Copeland, Reporter (Darlington)
A HEROIN addict stole more than £70 worth of goods from Boots to fund her drug habit, a court heard.
Charlene Watson, 22, pleaded guilty at Darlington Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday, December 11) to stealing a pair of hair straighteners worth £49.99 on November 10 and a £21.45 bottle of perfume on November 25.
The court heard that Watson, of Barden Moor Road, had been a drug addict since she was injected with heroin while she slept in a hostel aged 16.
Mitigating, Ben Pegman said that she had an “absolutely traumatic” background which led to her drug taking.
“Considering she has had this (addiction) since she was 16, she hasn’t done too badly,” said Pegman who told the court that Watson was voluntarily receiving help through a methadone treatment programme.
Magistrates gave Watson a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay £71.44 compensation, plus £85 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
