A 19-YEAR-OLD girl's tragic history was blamed for her being on the threshold of going to prison.

But after they heard Tammy Dwyer's tale of abuse and abandonment and how heroin and crack cocaine addictions had driven her to shoplifting and prostitution, Blackburn magistrates gave her a final chance.

Dwyer, of East Park Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of shoplifting, unauthorised taking of a car aggravated by damage and breach of a community rehabilitation order imposed for theft offences and a conditional discharge for loitering for the purpose of prostitution. She was made subject to a drug treatment and testing order for 12 months and ordered to pay £150 compensation.

Scott Ainge, prosecuting, said the car had been stolen from outside a house in Bolton where Dwyer used to live. It eventually crashed into a BMW causing £2,274 worth of damage to that vehicle. There was also £400 worth of damage to the car driven by Dwyer who remained at the scene. A male who was in the car with her ran off.

Derwin Harvey, defending, said Dwyer's life was a tragic tale. Her mother had abandoned her when she was just one leaving her with her alcoholic father. Her paternal grandmother moved in but left when she was seven years old because of her father's drunken behaviour.

"She suffered physical and mental abuse and eventually left home to make her own way in life when she was just 15 years old," said Mr Harvey. He said Dwyer had done well at first, attending college, holding down a number of jobs and supporting her own flat. "When she was just 17 years old she got involved with a much older man who introduced her to heroin," said Mr Harvey. "What happened after that is an all too familiar tale. She lost her flat, found herself homeless and working the streets to support her habit."

Mr Harvey said Dwyer moved to Blackburn to get away from her boyfriend but very soon afterwards found herself in a similar relationship.

"There was a period when she was drug free, having escaped the clutches of her boyfriend, but her new relationship soon turned sour and her new man-friend broke her nose," said Mr Harvey. "What you now have is a girl of 19 who has a crack cocaine and heroin habit which she supports by stealing and selling her body on the streets," said Mr Harvey.

"She wants to turn her life around but she need help. So far in her life she has had nothing bus disappointment and abuse and I am of the firm opinion that Tammy Dwyer deserves one last chance."