A thief who attacked a security guard has been jailed after breaching her drug treatment order.

Tracey Smith, 26, appeared before Chelmsford Magistrates' Court yesterday, after the Probation Service said she had breached the terms of her drug treatment and testing order and applied for the order to be revoked and for her to be re-sentenced.

Smith, of Cabins Cottage, Hunts Farm, Shalford, near Braintree, had been made subject to the order last October after admitting theft and assault and testing positive for cocaine and opiates.

The court heard that since then she had persistently failed to show up for appointments or keep in regular contact with the Probation Service.

Lorraine Webb, prosecuting, said in June last year Smith had snatched £195 cash from an open till at the Tesco store in Market Place, Braintree.

Smith fled but was apprehended by a male security guard before she could leave the store.

In the ensuing struggle she bit the security guard, breaking the skin and causing reddening and abrasions, the court heard.

Peter Barlex, mitigating, said: "She was in a relationship with someone who is a regular and persistent user of opiates. She's become more responsible and ended this relationship. She handed herself in on Saturday."

Magistrates revoked the drug treatment and testing order and jailed Smith for three months - two months for the theft and assault and one month for failing to surrender to custody, to run consecutively. Smith admitted all the offences and breaching the order.

Published Tuesday, January 18, 2005

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