REFORMING drug addicts Claudine Anne Shapcott and Daniel Charles Thomas were praised for facing up to their problems and taking steps to put things right.

Blackburn magistrates heard that the couple, who have a three-year-old daughter, were both undergoing residential rehabilitation in Sheffield for their heroin addiction.

And the court was told that facing their problems separately they would soon move into a family unit and continue the fight together.

Shapcott, 28, formerly of Airdrie Crescent, Burnley, and Thomas, 27, formerly of Old Stone Trough Lane, Colne, both pleaded guilty to stealing groceries worth £216 from Sainsburys in Clitheroe and asked for an offence of stealing groceries worth £119 to be taken into consideration.

Shapcott pleaded guilty to stealing three camcorders from Harry Garlicks on the same day and Thomas pleaded guilty to handling the stolen property.

They were both made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 12 months and ordered to pay £35 compensation.

Philip Turner, defending, said neither defendant had started offending until they were in their mid 20s and the reason for that was heroin.

He said the couple had both worked in the business owned by Thomas' father and held responsible positions.

"When they started taking recreational drugs they had good jobs, good income and they were celebrating the birth of their daughter" said Mr Turner.

"Very quickly they were reduced to committing offences to fund their habit."