A CHANGE in medication led to a woman stealing an angel and a child's train set, a court heard.

Addict Kerry Ann Charnley appeared before Furness Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and admitted stealing a Trax Super Looper train set, worth £15, from The Works, Dalton Road, Barrow, and a £30 plaster angel belonging to Tracy Christine Clark.

Mr Lee Dacre, prosecuting, explained how staff saw Charnley, 37, of Parade Street, Barrow, in the town centre shop at about 3pm on December 5.

He said: "She was seen carrying the train set and then when the staff member turned back the defendant had gone. They checked stock and CCTV footage and it was reported to police. Later she was in Talisman Close where she was seen to pick up an angel and put it under her coat. She then dropped it and it shattered and was beyond repair."

Mr Dacre told the court that Charnley had 26 convictions for 52 offences and 21 of those were for theft.

Mr Michael Graham, defending, said: "There had been a change in her medication and she wasn't thinking that straight. She admitted to police what she had done and went back to the shop to apologise.

"She's 37 now and has two children aged two and seven. 

"She was on 170 milligrammes of methadone a day and that is now down to 73mg. When she gets down to 70mg she can go into detox in a Manchester clinic. Then she won't be taking prescribed drugs or street drugs."

Magistrates fined Charnley £80 for each theft offence. She was also told to pay £85 court costs, a £20 victim surcharge and £30 in compensation to Mrs Clark.