A ‘SERIAL and professional shoplifter’ who stole items from shops in Poole and Dorchester has been jailed.

Helen Cooper, 38, of Bournemouth appeared before Dorchester Crown Court via video link from HMP Eastwood Park.

The defendant admitted 11 counts of theft by shoplifting and two counts of going equipped to steal in various offences ranging from July 2014 to February 2015.

David Reid, prosecuting, said in four separate incidents from July 5 to November 20 2014 Cooper had stolen DVDs and CDs totalling £1,713 from Tesco in Poole, and electrical items from John Lewis in Poole totalling £1,330 in the run up to Christmas.

He said Cooper was then arrested, admitted all offences and was released on bail.

However on February 4 this year, the defendant then targeted Gould's department store on South Street, Dorchester and stole four shirts and two jumpers totalling £480.

Then just two weeks later on February 18, Cooper was seen acting suspiciously at Country Casuals in Dorchester and was approached by a member of staff.

Mr Reid said: “The staff member smelt alcohol on her breath and said the defendant was intoxicated. They saw clothing belonging to the store poking out of the defendant’s bag.

“The staff member managed to retrieve a few of the items from the bag but the defendant left with a pair of ladies' trousers totalling £99.”

Just a few minutes later Cooper then targeted Gould's fashion store on South Street and was followed from the rear of the store by staff. A look inside the defendant’s bag revealed four Calvin Klein shirts worth £240.

Cooper had used a foil lined bag throughout to prevent shop alarms activating when she left, the court heard.

Mr Reid said: “This defendant is a serial and professional shoplifter with a total of 98 offences to her name since 2001, 59 of which are theft-related.”

Nicholas Robinson, mitigating, said Cooper has been battling addictions to cocaine, heroin and alcohol and her three children had been taken into care.

He added: “There is no doubt she is a bright young girl and once focused can progress her life. When she focuses, she can prove everybody else wrong and herself right.”

Handing down the sentence, Recorder David Evans said Cooper’s offences were motivated by her drugs habit which was costing more than £100 a week.

He said: “Your only mitigation is that your three children were taken into care giving rise to ongoing distress, which no doubt led to continued drug use and relapses.

“But that was three years ago now and the answer to your difficulties does not lie outside you.”

Cooper, of Verney Close, West Howe, was sentenced to 12 months in prison.