A 39-year-old woman turned to drug abuse after moving to Accrington.

Blackburn magistrates heard Terri-Anne Chappelhow had no convictions prior to the move.

She then ran up  a string of shoplifting offences which resulted in the police asking for a criminal behaviour order.

Chappelhow, 39, of Wellington Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to 10 offences of shoplifting. She was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and was also ordered to pay £689 compensation.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said she was not satisfied there was a need to make a criminal behaviour order.

“Prolific thefts cause financial loss to the stores and difficulties for the people who work there,” she said.

“I bear in mind you have pleaded guilty and that before this happened you hadn’t committed any criminal offences.”

Gareth Price, defending, said his client had slid into drug use after moving to Accrington.

“The application for a criminal behaviour order strikes me as a sledgehammer to crack a nut,” said Mr Price.

“There are 10 offences over a three-month period but there were no previous offences.

"There have been no offences in the last two months.”