A DRUG addict stole eight candles from a Worcester shop to pay off a debt.

A tearful Clair Bradshaw left her home in Teme Road just before Christmas after police issued a closure order due to drugs.

She has been homeless ever since.

The 49-year-old, currently on a suspended sentence for supplying heroin, went into Wilko in Worcester High Street with a backpack and loaded eight Yankee candles into it.

The court heard she was using the candles to pay off a drug debt and that her benefits had been stopped since she left her home as she had not informed the authorities of her move.

Mark Turnball defending, said: “She was given a suspended sentence in September 2016 for two years. This a long time for her to go without offending, it was almost setting her up to fail.

“But she has gone 18 months without offending.

“If you look on her record there is a long history of drug possession and theft offences.

“The police told her they would help to try and find her a home but they have no control over this. It is the council which can do that but I think she is at the bottom of their priority list.”

Mr Turnball successfully argued that, as stealing candles was a different crime to supplying heroin, the suspended sentence should not be activated.

Bradshaw is currently living in a doorway outside the now-closed MultiYork shop in Pump Street and claims police have told her she can stay there until Specsavers move in in a few weeks.

She is getting help from Maggs Day Centre since her property was boarded up after a closure order.

Mr Turnball added: “The closure order was for three months so she could return there but she has chosen not to.

“The closure was because of issues surrounding drugs.

“I am not going to say she has given up drugs completely but she has dramatically reduced how much she is taking.

“She has spoken to a support worker who has helped her to get her benefits back on track.”

Bradshaw was given a 12 month community order and 30 rehabilitation activity days.

She also has to pay £104 to Wilko pushing her outstanding fines to the court over £1,400. She was also banned from Wilko for 12 months.

She stole the candles at around 9.30am on Thursday March 22.

She appeared in Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday May 17 and admitted theft from a shop.

For more court stories see worcesternews.co.uk