AN alcoholic who celebrated the New Year with a six-day drinking binge was arrested for stealing spirits after spending all her benefits on booze, a court heard.

Burnley Magistrates were told that Patricia Dale, 57, had been 'dry' for nine years but helped herself to three litres of drink from a Padiham supermarket after she ran out of cash.

Dale, of Whitegate Gardens, Padiham, admitted theft and was conditionally discharged for 12 months, with £65 costs.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said Dale, who had 15 previous convictions for theft, told police she was an alcoholic and had no money.

Geoff Ireland, defending, said Dale started offending in 1963 but had managed to stop drinking for nine years.

She met her husband at Alcoholics Anonymous but their marriage fell apart. He had been taking cocaine, become increasingly violent and the defendant had lived in a refuge for some time.

Dale had experimented with amphetamine and cannabis in the 1960s and had taken drugs or drink for as long as she could remember.

Mr Ireland said Dale went to Alcoholics Anonymous three times a week. She had not had a drink over Christmas but on New Year's Eve went out with a friend and drank white wine.

She then drank solidly for the next six days until she was arrested. She had spent all her benefits on alcohol.

He said Dale suffered from agoraphobia and panic attacks and had good days and bad days.