A WOMAN who was awarded £450,000 following a botched operation has been jailed for 12 months.

Patricia McCarthy, 34, claimed the operation - which resulted in brain damage - had left her with criminal tendencies.

McCarthy and 37 year old Phillip Murphy, both from Clovelly Road, Anfield, Liverpool, admitted burgling two charity shops in Morecambe, stealing property worth just over £1000.

Preston Crown court heard that McCarthy had a litre of carbon dioxide pumped into her blood during a sterilisation operation in 1991.

William Parkinson, defending, said "She didn't commit any offences until this operation which went badly wrong."

Judith McCullock, prosecuting, said the pair had burgled the Imperial Cancer Research Shop and the Barnardo's outlet on the same night.

McCarthy had left a letter addressed to her in one of the shops, and their car was also caught on CCTC.

Her partner Murphy, who admitted a further four similar offences, was jailed for two years.

Judge Brian Duckworth told them: "These are all quite clearly serious and particularly mean offences.

"These shops exist on the goodwill of the public. People donate items to be sold on for a profit to benefit those charities."

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