A SERIAL thief has been hauled before magistrates after a five-week stealing spree.

Heroin addict and former prostitute Angela Money, 28, who currently lives with her father in Tamworth Drive, pleaded guilty to 13 charges – which included 10 thefts, two assaults and one of fraud – when she appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court last week.

The court heard that between November 13 and December 15, Money stole from a number of stores in the town.

Among her haul was £60 worth of meat from Sainsburys, £15 worth of bacon from the Co-op, aftershave totalling £28 from Superdrug and a £200 handbag from TK Maxx.

She also admitted two common assaults, which took place on November 13 and December 3, against a Co-operative worker after he witnessed her stealing.

The fraud charge related to an incident that took place on December 6 in which Money used the contactless payment system on a man’s Nationwide bank card running up a bill for £97.

Money, who first began abusing drugs at the age of 14, has previous convictions for theft. Her offending history dates back to 2003.

Philip Hall, defending, said that Money had managed to get on top of her addiction, but that a recent detox programme hadn’t worked and “the old cravings began to resurface”.

The probation service referred to her as a very vulnerable young woman who needs help to engage with drug rehabilitation programmes.

Presiding magistrate Peter Wells said: “It seems as though this behaviour had been triggered by the detox programme.

“You have pleaded guilty to a lot of offences. It is clear to us that with offences of this number we have to consider a custodial sentence. However, we think it is important to try to keep you on the right track.”

Money was handed a 12-month community order and told to stay away from certain stores in Swindon for the next six months.

She was also given a drug rehabilitation order and told to return to court on January 30 for an assessment.

She was ordered to pay for all the goods she stole, including £97.86 compensation to Nationwide and £100 to Jamie Read to compensate for the assault. She was also charged £85 court costs.