A 29-YEAR-OLD woman with a history of theft offences was told by a district judge that she had reached the end of the line as far as sentencing options were concerned.

And he told Samantha Herd that the fact she had gone so long without receiving a custodial sentence was a matter of sheer good fortune.

Herd, of Cherry Lodge, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two offences of shoplifting and one of possessing heroin.

She also admitted breach of probation imposed for three offences of theft, breach of a conditional discharge imposed for theft and two offences of failing to answer to bail

After hearing that she had been remanded in custody for the last two weeks, district judge Paul Firth sentenced her to 28 days on each offence, which means she will serve another 14 days.

Mr Firth said it seemed to him that no matter what order the court had made, Herd invariably failed to comply and carried on committing offences.

"You can not carry on without someone like me saying enough is enough," said Mr Firth.

"The time has come when you have committed one offence too many, in fact you have committed several too many, and a prison sentence has to follow."

Basharat Ditta, defending, said drug problems were behind Herd's offending behaviour but he said she was making strenuous efforts to rid herself of all drugs, including prescribed alternatives.

Mr Ditta said that since a sentence had been deferred in September she had kept out of trouble until May.

"I invite you to say this is a lady who needs assistance to help her beat the problems that have beset her in the past," added Mr Ditta.