A DRUG-addicted mother of two used her baby's pram as a cover to go out stealing, Burnley magistrates heard.

The court was told how pregnant Clare Myra Forbes, 22, a heroin addict since she was 15, used the pram to hide goods when she went shoplifting.

Forbes, who was trying to kick her addiction on her own, was dubbed a persistent offender by the bench, who said she had struck while on bail.

They added the defendant had failed to respond to sentences imposed previously but was trying to address her drug problem. But, they went on, she was a caring mother who looked after her children and all the stolen goods had been recovered.

Forbes, of Rutland Place, Padiham, had admitted two counts of failing to comply with a community rehabilitation order, stealing from shop premises, committing a further offence during a conditional discharge and allegations of failing to surrender to custody.

She was given a three-month curfew order, between the hours of 7pm and 7am, which should finish just in time for the birth of her third child.

The court was told one of the defendant's hauls was worth £247. She had nine previous convictions for theft, going back to 1977.

Paul Wood, defending, said the offences were not sophisticated. Forbes had made full and frank admissions and she had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

She had been trying to sort out her drug problem independently and had been achieving very little because of it.

Forbes came from a troubled background, had quite a lot on her plate with two children, had moved away from her family and had to count on friends.

She would like to do a community punishment order.