A WOMAN living a ‘chaotic and transient lifestyle’ has been sentenced for shoplifting.

Vicky Arts was recently released on licence after serving half of a five-and-a-half-year sentence for her involvement in supplying drugs, South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court heard.

READ MORE: Trio involved in supplying class A drugs jailed for more than 12 years in total

As a result, the 38-year-old was made homeless and fell back into a ‘bad crowd’, the court was told.

Lee Dacre, prosecuting, said Arts was caught on CCTV stepping over the barrier of B&M in Barrow on the morning of July 26 this year with a box containing a Henry Hoover Vacuum Cleaner.

The court heard the defendant made off with the device, valued at £139, without making any payment.

(Image: B&M Bargains, Dalton Road, Barrow. Credit: Google Maps) Mr Dacre said Arts was seen ‘selecting clothing items’ later that afternoon from The Original Factory Shop in Ulverston with her co-accused Dale Smith.

The court was told the duo stole a combined £389 worth of items from the store.  

(Image: The Original Factory Shop, Ulverston. Credit: Google Maps) Smith was sentenced to 28 days in prison after previously admitting the offence, Mr Dacre said.

A member of the probation service who conducted a pre-sentence report said Arts had been living a ‘chaotic and transient lifestyle’ due to her ‘underpinning issues with drugs’.

The defendant, who chose not to be legally represented, told the court: “I was homeless after being released from prison. I had done really well for so long. All I have ever known is addiction. It is so easy to fall back in with these people.

READ MORE: Barrow woman who dealt drugs 'became an addict aged 12'

“I’m working every day to make a change.

“I’ve pulled away from those people now. I am doing a lot of walking and watching TV boxsets at the moment.”

Arts, who appeared in court five hours late to her hearing due to being ‘really stressed and worried’ about being sent back to prison, was sentenced to a six-month community order.

It comes after magistrates had earlier issued a warrant for her arrest.

Before proceeding to sentence, chair of the bench Charles Crewdson said: “This is the most blatant bit of shoplifting I have seen for some time.

“You fell back into a bad crowd after being released from prison for drug dealing offences.

“However, there has been a change. You have now, for the time, got accommodation and you are engaging with probation.

"What you have done so far is a small step in the right direction and we do not want to destroy that.”

As part of the order, Arts, of Lumley Street, Barrow, was required to complete a six-month drug rehabilitation programme and a three-week curfew between the hours of 5pm and 7am.

She was also ordered to pay compensation of £139 back to B&M and £194.50 back to The Original Factory Shop.