A PROLIFIC thief who had shaken off a drug addiction and begun to turn her life around, went back to her former ways after being refused a hardship loan in the run-up to Christmas.

Victoria Trodden, of Outram Court, Darlington, stole almost £50 worth of children's toys from the town's Waterstones store so her children would have some gifts to open on Christmas Day, the court heard.

The 45-year-old admitted one charge of theft from a shop when she appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe.

Trodden, who has more than 90 previous convictions for theft, was waiting for the Department for Work and Pensions to pay her amended benefits after moving in with her partner, and was left with no money at all right before Christmas.

She filled out forms for an emergency loan from the Job Centre, but was refused.

In desperation, she went to the Citizen's Advice Bureau for a £40 hardship loan but it took a while to process and she did not receive the money until after Christmas.

John Garside, prosecuting, said: "On November 28 the defendant went into Waterstones in Darlington and taken various items from the children's gift section to the value of £48.96. Miss Trodden was interviewed by the police and fully admitted the offence of theft."

Stephen Andrews, mitigating on behalf of Trodden, said as soon as her benefits arrived she went into Waterstones with the cash for the items she stole and a card explaining why she had done it, but 'Waterstones turned her away', he said.

He said her 90 plus convictions dated back to 1990 and were mainly to 'finance a long-standing addiction to drugs', which had now been addressed, he said.

"She is no longer using illegal substances. She is on a stable prescription and she isn't 'topping up'. She doesn't use drugs recreationally now. She has done almost the impossible. She has cleaned herself up completely, and largely she has done it herself," he said.

"As she sits before you today you would at least congratulate her for what has been a tremendous effort in that regard."

Trodden was now training to be an industrial cleaner, but while waiting for her new benefits before Christmas she was left with no money at all.

"All she could think about was Christmas Day, and her children having something from her," said Mr Andrews. "But she was caught and she did tell the police exactly what happened."

Magistrates adjourned the case for restorative justice and Trodden will next appear on March 5.