A WOMAN with a long-standing heroin habit sneaked into a family home and took a purse to help fund her addiction.

But Durham Crown Court heard that Erica Jasmine Hayhoe’s uninvited appearance at the house in South Moor, Stanley, led to a confrontation with a shocked householder, at 7am on May 19.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said the woman went to investigate noise from her dog downstairs and came face-to-face with Hayhoe, who made up a story about finding the pet wandering round in the street outside the home.

He said: “Inferring that she was a Good Samaritan, she told her that she brought the dog back into the house.”

Mr Abrahams added, the householder was “not taken in by it”, ushering her out of her home.

But it was only later that she realised £3.50 in change had been taken from a table and her purse was missing.

A description given by both the victim and a neighbour, who saw Hayhoe leaving, matched with the defendant.

She was arrested and her home was searched, leading to the recovery of the purse, later the same day.

Mr Abrahams said that Hayhoe initially denied entering the property, claiming she found the purse in a bin.

But, she was subsequently positively identified via a video identity procedure.

The victim said she and her children no longer feel safe in their home, the court heard.

Thirty-four-year-old Hayhoe, of Oswald Terrace, South Moor, admitted a charge of burglary.

Mr Abrahams told the court that she has previous convictions for shoplifting and heroin possession.

Lorraine Mustard, mitigating, said it was “opportunistic”, as passing by, Hayhoe noticed the door ajar and so let the dog in, before seeing the purse and cash.

Ms Mustard said: “Following the confrontation with the householder she immediately walked away as soon as she was challenged.

“It was not the sort of offence she had been committing.

“She has had a heroin addiction, but wants to make a clean break, and since she has been in custody following her arrest after the offence, she has been on reduced methadone dosage.”

Imposing an immediate eight-month prison sentence, Judge Christopher Prince told Hayhoe: “It’s important you receive apposite punishment and a clear message goes out to deter people from going into other people’s homes.”