A WORCESTER woman who lost her £200,000 home after becoming hooked on heroin as she struggled to come to terms with a serious assault, has been jailed.

Magistrates heard how Jacqueline Burbridge became hooked on the drug after being told it would block out memories of an attack which happened two years ago.

The 24-year-old mum appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday charged with 25 crimes including burglary, theft, criminal damage, driving without insurance and handling stolen goods. She was jailed for six months.

On Friday, July 6, this year, Burbridge was sentenced to 12 months in prison by Worcester Crown Court for possessing drugs.

Mark Soper, prosecuting, listed the crimes which included the burglary of a house in Worcester, stealing £180 worth of goods from Tesco in Redditch and assaulting her mother and sister over the custody of her young child.

"The defendant's child is looked after by her mother because of the lifestyle she leads," he said.

During yesterday's hearing Burbridge, formerly of Hamble Close, Newtown, admitted all the charges.

But Dale Sheehan, defending, said his client had had a successful career, a comfortable lifestyle and had not been in trouble until the attack two years ago. He said she had turned to drugs to block the incident from her mind, which had resulted in her getting into crime.

"It is quite a sorry tale - my client was homeless before going to jail," he said. "She was subjected to an horrific attack which had left her traumatised and was offered heroin to help her forget.

"Through that she lost everything, but she is now determined to break the heroin addiction."

The six month prison sentence will run consecutively to the 12-month term.