A WOMAN who reached through a kitchen window and stole a man's wallet has been ordered to stay in at night.Kelly Allender of Lakeside Road, Ipswich, narrowly avoided jail after admitting burglary in August this year.

A WOMAN who reached through a kitchen window and stole a man's wallet has been ordered to stay in at night.

Kelly Allender of Lakeside Road, Ipswich, narrowly avoided jail after admitting burglary in August this year.

She was rumbled after trying to use the card in a man's name at the Tesco Copdock store, South East Suffolk Magistrates were told.

"She was seen writing on a piece of paper outside the store, said prosecutor Gareth Davies.

"It was realised she was trying to practice the signature."

The court heard Allender had been "at large" for 18 months after failing to attend court back in January 2002.

She was to appear for obtaining property by deception from B & Q in Grafton Way, Ipswich, in December two years ago, which she admitted, and possession of a small amount of amphetamine.

The court heard she called into B & Q where she asked for a refund on a £125 turbo pump, which she had not paid for.

A member of staff became suspicious and CCTV footage revealed the 28-year-old was not carrying the pump when she came in.

"She was asked to come back into the store and became quite emotional," said Mr Davies. "She sat on the floor crying and remained there until police arrived."

When she was arrested police found she was in possession of the amphetamine, which she pleaded guilty to.

She also admitted not turning up to court in January 2002 and breaching a community rehabilitation order imposed in June 2001.

John Hughes, mitigating, said Allender had been out on the night of the burglary.

"She walked past the property and the kitchen window faces the front," said Mr Hughes. "She thought the wallet was reachable from her standing outside."

He added Allender, who has a five-week-old baby, could not explain why she took the wallet but made full admissions.

The court heard that Allender had appeared for her court hearing in January last year but worried that she would be jailed. "The pressure was too great for her and she walked out," said Mr Hughes.

Bench chairman John Clements told her: "You have narrowly avoided custody."

He gave her a six month curfew order which means Allender has to wear a tagging device and stay at home between the hours 7 pm and 7 am.

She was also made subject to a 12 month probation order.