A YOUNG mum who stole thousands in a burglary at a friend's house and tried to pinch lead from the roof of a shopping centre has been jailed for a year.

Laura Dommett, 22, formerly of Pitman Avenue in Trowbridge, was already on a suspended sentence for burglary when she committed the offences to fund her drug habit.

But Dommett, who turned to drugs after the death of the father of her children from an overdose, failed to comply with the order and continued to offend.

As well as the burglary and attempted theft of metal she also made off with £3,000 from a ticket machine at Trowbridge Railway Station and tried to get more from another.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court on Thursday how on April 12, Stephen Dunn put £5,600 in a cupboard at his house In Beanacre Road, Melksham.

The money was for payments in relation to his business and was next to a container with jewellery and another £2,200.

The following day at about 2.30pm two girls went to Mr Dunn's house asking if his son was there.

He told them he was not and that he was about to go to pick him up, which he did.

A few days later he realised the money and jewellery had gone missing from the cupboard.

When questioned Dommett admitted she had seen the money while she was at the house and taking it but denied stealing the jewellery.

Dommett admitted burglary and asked for four other matters to be taken into consideration.

The court heard in February she tried to steal lead from the roof of the Castle Place shopping centre in Trowbridge and two weeks later got £3,000 from the ticket machine.

Alex Daymond, defending, said Dommett was serving the suspended sentence imposed last year for burglary after she failed to comply with its conditions.

Though the sentence did not end until October, she was told she could be released on home detention curfew a week ago were it not for the new offences.

He said she wants to see her two children.

"She recognises what she has been doing in the past years has had a negative effect on them," he said.

"They have lost a father and mother now as well. She said during her time in custody she has had time to reflect on that."

Judge Douglas Field said: "You were given a suspended sentence for a very similar offence and just after six months you committed another burglary.

"It is clear that hitherto you have not taken sufficient notice of orders of the court and the non-custodial alternatives and I think the matters are so serious that I must pass an immediate sentence today."

But he said the new term would start immediately and not from the end of the sentence she was currently serving.