A WOMAN who turned to drugs when she lost her job and home has been jailed after committing more than a dozen crimes in a year.

Kelly Ann Dignam was ordered to serve 16 weeks behind bars after admitting stealing hundreds of pounds worth of Ralph Lauren clothing from a Southampton store and possessing heroin and cannabis.

The 26-year-old had 13 past convictions, six of which were theft-related offences, that were all committed in 2016.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard Dignam was caught on CCTV picking up two pieces of clothing worth £188 and walking out of John Lewis, in the Westquay shopping centre, without paying for them.

The defendant was stopped by police on January 24 and found in possession of three wraps of heroin.

Dignam returned to the scene of the crime and was spotted on CCTV stealing from the same store again a month later on February 15.

The defendant stole a pair of trousers and an anorak worth £304 and walked out without paying.

When officers caught up with her the following day and arrested Dignam, she was in possession of seven grams of cannabis.

As well as this, the defendant has since been caught by security guards trying to walk out of a Sainsbury’s store with more than £285 worth of goods.

Defending, Susan Ridge said it all started when she lost her job and home last year and turned to drugs.

“She looks healthy and not like a class A drug user,” she added.

Mrs Ridge said the defendant, who lives in Whitelaw Road, Southampton, had since got into a new relationship with someone who did not take drugs and was trying very hard to stay off them, and when tested in custody, was clean.

She added Dignam needed support and hoped this time she would succeed in sorting her life out, especially since she was a relatively new user.

Chairman Trevor Vidler also ordered Dignam to pay a £115 victim surcharge.

He said: “We have listened to what has been said both against you and on your behalf and we understand you have pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

“It has passed the custody threshold – three of these offences were committed while you were on bail and all five were committed while you were on licence.”