Within days of being released from prison a prolific shoplifter is back behind bars after she started offending again.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Amy Barnes was still on prison licence when she started stealing, less than two weeks after being released.

Barnes, 27, of Newfield Drive, Nelson, pleaded guilty to five charges of shoplifting. She was jailed for eight weeks.

Jane Rappin, prosecuting, said Barnes had convictions for 106 offences and 102 of them had been for shoplifting.

The latest set of offences had resulted in a 12 week prison sentence.

Mark Williams, in mitigation, said in the past his client got involved in an abusive relationship.

That got her involved in the drugs scene and then in shoplifting.

“She has had a real struggle but in the weeks since her last prison sentence has had some success,” said Mr Williams.

The chair of the magistrates' bench said they were encouraged by the fact Barnes had been working with the Probation Service and had kept herself free of drugs.

Speaking after the case, a Pendle Police spokesperson said: “This will come as good news to the business community and should serves as a warning to others that we, the police, and courts will not tolerate shoplifting in Pendle or (the) wider Lancashire area.”