A drug user's habit had deteriorated to the stage that she was starting to offend to fund it.

Blackburn magistrates heard Katherine Young was stopped by security as she committed her latest offence at Boots.

When she was arrested police discovered another offence caught on CCTV almost 12 months earlier.

Young, 31, of Curzon Place, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of shoplifting.

She was made subject to a community order with six months drug rehabilitation requirement and 10 days rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £65 compensation to Home Bargains.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said she was concerned the defendant's substance abuse was getting worse and she was finding herself appearing in court.

"I don't want to see you again, I want you to get help with your addiction," she said.

Zia Yasin, defending, said his client was a user of heroin and crack cocaine.

"She has been using for a number of years but it is only recently she has started appearing before the courts," said Mr Yasin.