to shoplift from M&S

DRUGS and poor relationships drove a mum to become a persistent shoplifter.

Pamela Williams went from being almost unknown to the police in 2000, to getting herself banned from every Marks and Spencers in the country.

The 37-year-old from Newton now has an 'appalling' list of previous convictions.

She escaped jail for two more shoplifting offences in an appearance at Warrington Crown Court on Friday.

Williams had been spotted by a camera operator hiding bottles of drink in a bag in a trolley then covering it with flowers at Marks and Spencer at Gemini retail park.

Her crimes broke a variety of Community Rehabilitation Orders from her 20 previous shoplifting convictions.

Her defence barrister, Mark Lebroq, successfully argued that she should be put on a Drug Rehabilitation Course.

Recorder John Jarman QC sentenced her to a 12-month Drug Rehabilitation Order, a 12-month Supervision Order and ordered her to attend a course on understanding her offending.