A WOMAN yesterday admitted that she stole hundreds of pounds of clothes to help pay for her heroin addiction.

Police found the items during a search at the home of Amy Ross, 23, of Wadham Grove, Darlington, South Durham Magistrates' Court heard.

She pleaded guilty to stealing £205 of clothes from Top Shop, £54 of goods from Dorothy Perkins and £32.98 of goods from Adams. She also admitted stealing £122 of clothing and goods from BHS, also in Darlington.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said Ross told police that she took the items both for herself and to sell to help pay for her drug habit.

Magistrates, sitting in Darlington, heard that Ross was no longer an addict, and gave her an 18-month conditional discharge.