A 30-YEAR-OLD woman stole her dad’s laptop and sold it to Cash Converters for £70 to pay off a drug debt.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when he asked about his computer Nicole Louise Clegg initial claimed she had sent it to be fixed.

Clegg, of Spencer Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to theft of a laptop worth £379 belonging to Kenneth Hyatt. She was given a conditional discharge for 18 months and ordered to pay £100 costs and £70 compensation to Cash Converters.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said when his daughter admitted what she had done Mr Hyatt approached Cash Converters and they returned his computer.

Gareth Price, defending, said Clegg had a problem with the misuse of drugs in the past but the offence was not evidence of a return to that lifestyle.

“She has been successful in her battle against drug abuse,” said Mr Price. “She has not used illegal drugs since January and has been free of medicated support since June. “ He said people to whom she owed money from some time ago had caught up with her and were threatening to recover what they were owed in other ways.