A 20-YEAR-OLD with a dependency on class A drugs was followed by police as she went on a shoplifting spree in Skipton, magistrates were told.

Gabrielle Alderton stole £53 of meat from Marks and Spencer, including a chateaubriand joint, and £24 of Lynx aftershave and razors from Boots, the court heard on Friday.

She was first spotted about to enter the High Street Boots at 2pm on August 15 by a police support community officer (PSCO) who was part of an plain clothes police operation targetting retail crime.

The officer, who recognised Alderton, watched as she stole items from Boots and then followed her to Marks and Spencer where she saw her take the meat and put it into a bag.

Alderton was stopped in nearby Rackhams department store where a search also uncovered £4 of items including two bottles of drink taken from Poundland, the court heard.

Alderton, of Woodhouse Avenue, Keighley, who admitted three counts of shop theft, was currently on a 12-month community order from Bradford Magistrates for similar matters, the court heard. The order included attendance at a drugs rehabilitation centre where she was addressing her drug dependency.

Magistrates allowed her to continue with her existing community order and for the Skipton thefts, gave her a 12-month conditional discharge. She was ordered to pay compensation of £53 to Marks and Spencer, costs of £40 and a victims surcharge of £15.