A DRUG addict who pledged to turn her life around has been sent to prison less than one month later.

Serial thief Chloe Sadler-Smith was spared jail after pleading with magistrates for a chance to change her fortunes earlier this month.

But the 33-year-old returned to crime just four days later when she snatched £384.78 worth of goods from an East of England Co-op shop in Colchester in under three weeks.

Lucy Osborne, mitigating, told Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday the mother-of-five was in a “never-ending cycle” of stealing to feed her drug addiction.

Goods taken between August 10 and Monday included confectionary items, dog food, coffee, washing liquid, and chocolate, with the Co-op in Hawthorn Avenue, Greenstead, hit six times.

It was despite a 22 week sentence already hanging over her head after it was imposed on August 6 but suspended for one year.

Gazette: Sentencing - Colchester Magistrates' CourtSentencing - Colchester Magistrates' Court (Image: Newsquest)

Sadler-Smith, of Hedge Drive, Colchester, admitted six counts of theft and was jailed for 34 weeks after an additional 12 weeks was added to her previous, and now activated, sentence.

“I don’t think it will come as any surprise to you that Ms Sadler-Smith is in the grips of Class A drug addiction and that is the driving force behind her offending behaviour,” said Ms Osborne.

“She is desperately unwell, she is suffering with withdrawal symptoms today.

“She is driven by her addiction to steal so she can sell the items and buy drugs. It’s a never-ending cycle.

“She has really tried to solve her problems by creating more; she regularly commits these types of offences.”

Charlene Richards, prosecuting, argued Sadler-Smith is a “prolific shoplifter” who plans the raids she carries out.

“She collects items which do total quite a lot in terms of value if you do add them up,” she said.

“The defendant was only here a couple of weeks ago and actually made submissions to the court about her wanting to turn her life around in respect of taking drugs.”

Sadler-Smith, who has children aged between nine months and 13-years-old, was ordered to pay £154 in compensation to the East of England Co-op.