A WOMAN stole vodka from Worcester stores on three separate occasions because “her life has fallen apart”, a court was told.

Helen Parry, aged 39, was told she was “at the end of the road” after pleading guilty to three charges of theft and breaching a conditional discharge. Liam Finch, prosecuting at Worcester Mag-istrates Court, said the three charges were matters of simple shoplifting from the Co-op in Angel Street, in the city centre, and on each occasion Parry stole vodka.

On October 21, Parry stole a bottle costing £14.79. On December 28, Parry stole two more bottles from the same Co-op costing £12.98. The next day she stole another two bottles of the same amount, but they were recovered.

Mr Finch said: “When interviewed, she accepts she stole the items and had entered the shop with the intention to take the alcohol.”

Mr Finch also told the court Parry was given a conditional discharge in January last year for being drunk in charge of a child.

“She collects her son from school and is seen lying in the snow while the child is crying,” he said.

Susie Duncan, defending, said Parry, of Orchid Close, St Peter’s, Worcester, had resigned from her long-standing career last year following her conviction.

Mrs Duncan said: “Her life is falling apart. She is currently going through a divorce and was subjected to domestic violence.

“She tells me she has resorted to alcohol as a coping mechanism.

“She knows it’s not right and it doesn’t help, but it’s all she has at the moment. She wants to turn her life around.

“All her offending is related to alcohol misuse and she accepts that she hasn’t been completely honest in the past about her alcohol consumption and that it’s a major problem.”

District Judge Bruce Morgan said: “It’s so sad to see someone like you who has talent and is intelligent ruining their life through alcohol.

“It’s sad that you cannot seem to admit your problems, but you’re really at the end of the road now.”

Parry was given a community order with an 18-month supervision requirement and was ordered to attend alcohol treatment as and when required. She was ordered to pay compensation of £37.44 and £85 costs and was made the subject of an exclusion order from the Co-op store in Angel Street.

Your Worcester News was the only member of the media to attend this hearing