A RECOVERING drug addict stole cash from a Wem pensioner's home after asking to use the toilet, a court heard.

Emma Durie took £80 from the victim's purse while she was in the property in April last year.

At the time 36-year-old Durie was said to have been spending £50 a day each on crack and heroin.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday Durie was sentenced to a six-month community order.

Judge Anthony Lowe said while he recognised the positive efforts Durie had made to beat her addiction the impact of the theft was deeper than the amount taken suggested.

“This was not just theft, it was theft from an elderly woman’s purse in her own home. The £80 is insignificant. You have destroyed her sense of security and stability,” he said.

Durie, formerly of Market Street, Wem, had been accused of burglary which she denied. The allegation was dropped after she admitted a charge of theft.

The court heard that 84-year-old Elizabeth Williams had sitting on her porch when she was approached by the defendant who asked if she could urgently use her toilet.

Brian McKenna, prosecuting, said the victim did not know the defendant but had seen her in the area doing gardening work.

He said she told Durie he could use the toilet and the defendant went into the house by herself.

"Shortly after Mrs Williams saw the defendant coming out of the living room and asked her why. The defendant didn’t say anything and left hurriedly,” he said.

Mrs Williams discovered the £80 was missing and called the police. Durie was arrested on July 11.

Lisa Hancox, for Durie, said her client had been struggling with her heroin and cocaine addiction at the time and the theft was an opportunistic.

“She did not enter the property with the intention of stealing but after she had used the toilet it popped into her head and she took the opportunity. It is something she deeply regrets," she said.

Miss Hancox said Durie was making progress in her efforts to overcome her addictions and had moved away to the Telford area to avoid seeing her associates in Wem’s drugs scene.