A MORECAMBE woman who stole from shops because she was short of cash has been jailed for 18 months.

Gillian Mellan, 34, pleaded guilty to four theft offences and attempting to pervert the course of justice between March and July this year.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Mellan had carried out some of the offences while on bail and while sentencing the judge, Mukhtar Hussain QC, said the offences were so serious only a custodial sentence could be justified.

Mr Paul Becker, prosecuting, said the first offence occurred at a store in Liverpool in March when she and another woman were seen stealing watches and were stopped as they were leaving.

While on bail she was caught stealing £110 worth of lingerie from Marks & Spencer in Lancaster and on July 13 she was stopped by suspicious security staff in the Arndale in Morecambe and was found to have £97 worth of toiletries and £42 worth of clothing.

She was quizzed by police and it was discovered that when she was arrested in Lancaster she had given a false name.

Defending Anthony Limont, said that Mellan had no source of income because she had been regarded as ineligible for funds by the Department of Social Security.