A heroin addict is now on the road to recovery after being caught stealing from a supermarket led to her getting help to kick her habit.

Despite being on the class A drug for a decade, Hayley Kennedy had never been in trouble with the law until she stole from a store in Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey.

The 40-year-old was seen in the Morrisons store in Neats Court on May 7 picking up items including baby clothes and washing detergent.

She put some clothes over her arm and was then seen walking toward the store entrance to try and leave.

However, she was stopped by a staff member who tried to get the items back from her.

A struggle broke out during which Kennedy was said to have tugged at the shopworker’s arm.

Kennedy, of Sheerness, was later charged with shoplifting and admitted the offence when she appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 25).

District Judge William Nelson heard the offence took place on May 7.

Robert Weston, mitigating, told the judge his client had been addicted to drugs for 10 years or more.

He added: “She was in a violent relationship, but has not escaped that and after being arrested, because she was an addict, she was given a drug test and that led to a drug referral and she is now on a methadone script and has not touched illicit drugs since.”

District Judge Nelson said it was unusual for an addict not to have come to the attention of the courts before because they usually have to resort to crime to fund their habit.

He placed Kennedy on a 12-month conditional discharge but reminded her if she committed another offence in that time, she would be hauled back before the court and punished over the shoplifting offence, as well as any other she had committed.

He also told her she must pay Morrisions £10 compensation and also ordered she pay £85 court costs.