A WOMAN who breached a community order she was given after clocking up 68 offences has been given yet another chance by the courts.

Leanne Goldsmith, of The Heights, Old Town, was given a one-week curfew when she appeared at Swindon Crown Court yesterday, just two months after she was given a two-year community order as well as a drug rehabilitation requirement for shoplifting.

The court heard that Goldsmith, 29, breached the order when she chose to support a friend in court instead of attending a drug rehabilitation requirement on April 1.

She also failed to attend a review of the drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR) on April 6 but on the same day attended her drug rehabilitation session, so it is thought she ‘simply overlooked’ it.

Last week, Goldsmith was praised by a judge for her progress at a review hearing and Martin Wiggins, defending, said she is making significant improvements. He said: “She appears to have been making generally very good progress in what has been a chaotic life as far as drugs are concerned.

“The review she had was a positive review and there were encouraging signs she will make good and fulfilling progress.”

Goldsmith was given a suspended jail term last summer for her part in a robbery in which a woman was stabbed and was told by the judge she would face jail if she breached the order.

But in March, Judge Lawrie scrapped the one-year suspended jail term passed in August and replaced it with a two-year community order as punishment after she appeared in court charged with shoplifting just days after her court appearance for the robbery.

Yesterday, Judge Douglas Field said: “This is all very perplexing. On the one hand I have a report that speaks very highly of you. You are making positive changes in all areas of your life and the offender manager is very pleased with your effort in making changes to turn your life around. At the same time you failed to attend your first review hearing and at the very same time you are getting on with your drug rehabilitation requirement.

“On the second occasion you decided to come to court to support a friend rather than attend the meeting.”

He told Goldsmith that orders have to be ‘complied with to the letter’ but added: “Bearing in mind the positive remarks I have alluded to I am prepared to give you a chance to get further into this order so you can use it to to try and deal with this drug problem you have.”

Goldsmith was given a curfew from 8pm until 6am at her address in Old Town for a week.

“If you comply with that and then carry on with your compliance with the DRR we can get you back on track,” said Judge Field.