IPSWICH: A drug addict sobbed in court as magistrates gave her a final chance to turn her back on crime and overcome the habit that is destroying her life.

The court heard mum-of-three Karen Goold is desperate to beat her addiction and rebuild her relationship with her children.

The 30-year-old appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and admitted two charges of shoplifting.

Goold, 30, of Withipoll Street, Ipswich, has a catalogue of previous convictions recorded against her and has racked up court fines of �1,654, of which she has paid just �580.

The court heard she had last appeared on July 4 when she answered a charge of shoplifting and was sentenced to a community supervision order with a drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR).

She was supposed to attend a meeting with a support worker the following day, but instead went into Boots in Ipswich and cleared the display of baby cream. She returned on July 11 and took a further 24 boxes of the cream.

Prosecutor Naomi Turner said: “She was arrested on July 12 and said she had stolen the items to support her heroin habit.”

In mitigation, her solicitor Shelley Lapatrie, said: “She wants to ask for one final attempt to get the DRR off the ground.

“Her partner also uses and on that day he indicated that he needed a hit...she effectively went out to score for him.”

Goold, who is on prescribed medication to tackle her drug addiction, has since met with the drug advisors and has vowed to attend in the future. Chairman of the bench, Joan Overett, said: “For these two offences, custody would certainly be justified. However, we are giving you a last chance. It is entirely up to you to take that last chance.”

A new 12-month supervision with a DDR for six months was issued and Goold was held in custody for the remainder of the day in lieu of her fines but was warned she would be back behind bars for several weeks if she breached the orders.