A plea to spare a shoplifter from her fourth prison sentence fell on deaf ears as the woman was jailed for 28 days for her latest theft.

Tammy Potts, 43, was put before Carlisle's Rickergate Magistrates Court this week after she was arrested for stealing goods worth more than £112 from the city's B&M Bargains on Wigton Road on September 21.

Staff at the store saw her hiding wine, razors, and pet products in her clothing before walking out of the store. At the time, she was already being supervised by the Probation Service following earlier offending, the court heard.

In mitigation, defence lawyer Sara Budniak told the court: “My client has a long history with drugs over the years and she's been in prison three times.

“She feels that the type of sentences she's had have not necessarily benefited her. She's made some attempts to attend Unity [a drug and alcohol group] and she's been to some sessions with Narcotics Anonymous.”

The lawyer said the defendant had been helping her nephew after he was seriously injured in a road accident and left in a coma for a week.

Potts had supported him and his family.

She added: “She feels she's turning a corner in terms of tackling the problems she's had.” But the court heard that the defendant still had an erratic lifestyle and struggled to undertake unpaid work.

Magistrates immediately jailed Potts, from Newton Square Gardens, Gretna, after noting her previous criminal record, that she had a history of not complying with court orders and that she was already under post-sentence supervision at the time of the offence.