A CASH-strapped mum went to Preston on a thieving mission to get Christmas presents for her daughter.

Burnley magistrates heard how Sharrell Joy Walker's benefit book had been taken illegally from her and cashed by her partner and she had been in desperate straits.

Walker, 35, of Constable Avenue, Burnley, was sentenced 80 hours community service after admitting two counts of theft and breach of probation. The bench allowed the probation order to continue.

Christiana Buchanan, prosecuting, said the defendant went to Preston specifically to shoplift for her 11-year-old daughter. She then went stealing in Burnley Woolworths.

Walker had appeared regularly before the court for dishonesty and drugs offences. The court was told she had repeatedly failed to report to the Probation Stop Programme. Richard Taylor, defending, said Walker was allegedly assaulted at the end of October, and for five weeks after that, was in a refuge. When a probation letter was delivered to where her former partner lived, Walker knew nothing about it.

The offences were against the background of the assault.

Walker's benefit book had been taken from her illegally and cashed by her partner and she had been in a desperate position.

She went to Preston, spent a night in the cells and the property was recovered.

Walker had suffered quite severe depression. It was the first time she had breached the probation order and it could be allowed to continue.

She was the ideal candidate for community service and in the past had helped to set up the coffee shop at the Caldwell Inn Activity Centre.

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