A MOTHER turned her pregnant drug-abusing daughter in to police after she stole her purse containing £100.

Patricia Blakey, 19, appeared in Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday after pleading guilty to the theft in February.

David Bryson, prosecuting, told the court that Blakey was at her mother's home when a row broke out between them over suspicions that the teenager had taken drugs.

While her mother, Patricia Hewitt, went outside to talk to her daughter's boyfriend, the teenager made off with her purse. The teenager's sister chased after her and retrieved the purse, but not the money.

Blakey, of Coronation Avenue, Shildon, later told police she had spent the money mostly on drugs.

The girl's mother said there had been £300 in the purse, but that was denied by Blakey.

She pleaded guilty on the basis that she stole £100 and she also admitted breaching a 12-month drug treatment and testing order, which had been imposed in January for theft from a shop.

Laura Sanders-Jerrom, defending, said her client was having problems with her lifestyle, and now she was pregnant, was finding it hard to cope.

She said she was suffering morning sickness and so had not attended the treatment sessions although her she had started off well.

Chairman of the bench Alfred Walker revoked the treatment order because of her pregnancy and imposed a 12-month rehabilitation order.

She was ordered to repay her mother the £100 and pay £75 costs. She was not fined for the theft.