A thieving addict told a court she would be moving in with her father to stay away from class A drugs and her partner who she blames for her offending.

Katy Stafford, who has at least 54 convictions to her name, was sick of her lifestyle and wanted to “get herself in a better position”.

The 44-year-old, of Gordon Road, Chatham, had stolen a Mercedes Class A van worth £15,000 from a road in the town on February 5, after finding the keys inside and driving off in it.

She had been remanded in custody after admitting two counts of theft from a vehicle, taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and driving without insurance and a licence.

Her cases were adjourned at Medway Magistrates’ Court last month when a pre-sentencing report was ordered.

The repeat offender returned to the same court on February 28 to be sentenced via video link from prison.

Richard Lamb, prosecuting, had told the court: “It was just after 3.30am and in Edward Street, Chatham, and she had a torch and was seen looking through the windows searching inside the van and found the keys and then got in the vehicle.

“She took the keys and left with with vehicle, she drove off, but it was caught on CCTV and she was clearly seen.

“She had only a provisional, so no licence or insurance and she was ID’d from the CCTV footage and the vehicle was vacated in Gordon Road, Chatham, and she was arrested and taken into custody.

“She refused to take part in an interview, she has lots of previous convictions and conviction 54 is also a theft matter.”

The court also heard how on January 11 this year, she was spotted on CCTV in another road in Salisbury Road, Chatham, breaking into a car where a coat and bag were stolen from inside. She was arrested soon after and gave no comment in interview.

Karley Styles, defending, told the court Stafford and her partner had been class A drug users for years.

She said: “They have been using class A drugs for a long time, her co-defendant was her partner, but when she’s away from him she gets clean.

“They keep getting back together again and she is now looking to stay away from him and go and live with her dad in Detling Close, Rainham, to get herself in a better position.

“She’s been in custody for three weeks.”

When you leave custody I do hope you manage to stay away from court

District Judge William Nelson told Stafford her drug habit had led to her long history of previous offending which meant she was no stranger to imprisonment.

He told her that with a record like hers it would mean she would keep getting immediate custodial sentences all the while she continued to offend.

Stafford was jailed for 18 weeks for the offences, but she received no separate penalty for driving without insurance and a licence – although her licence will be endorsed.

She was also banned from driving for 12 months for the offence of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154.

Judge Nelson added: “When you leave custody I do hope you manage to stay away (from court).”