A woman caught shoplifting four times in two weeks said everything she stole had gone to her drug dealer in return for cocaine.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the incidents had been caught on CCTV, which police posted on their social media pages prompting several positive identifications of Terri-Anne Chappelhow.

Chappelhow, 39, of Wellington Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to four charges of shoplifting at Wilkinson’s Accrington and theft of property totalling £389.

Her first offence came on March 13, when she stole cosmetics worth £55 from the Wilko store in Market Square, Accrington.

She struck again on March 25, again pocketing cosmetics, this time worth £199, from the shop, then returned again the next day, again stealing cosmetics worth £42.

Her last offence came on March 27, and again she stole cosmetics, worth £93, from the shop.

At the conclusion of the hearing on Thursday, July 13, she was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Gareth Price, for Chappelhow, said his client had no previous convictions.

“It seems to me she is a lady who could benefit from the assistance of the probation  service,” said Mr Price.