A thief has been banned from driving for 36 months after she was caught drug-driving for the second time in two months.

Karen Goold, of Bullards Lane, Woodbridge, pleaded guilty to a catalogue of offences committed in Ipswich and Colchester when she appeared before Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.

The 37-year-old admitted drug-driving, using a mobile phone while driving, theft from two shops, two charges of fraud by false representation and making off without payment.

The court heard Goold had previously been convicted of drug-driving on March 28 for an offence which happened on January 13.

Her latest drug-driving conviction related to March 18 when Goold was seen by police using a mobile phone while driving a grey Kia Venga along Woodbridge Road in Ipswich at around 2pm.

She provided a blood sample which proved positive for a derivative of cocaine. Goold had 313 microgrammes of Benzoylecgonine in her blood. The legal limit is 50mcgs.

On January 23, Goold went into the Shell petrol station on the A14 near the Orwell Bridge at 7.10am, picked up a bottle of motor oil worth £34.79, took it to the counter and requested a refund even though she did not have a receipt. The offence was caught on CCTV.

On February 1, Goold picked up two ink cartridges and two other low value items from Sainsbury in Stanway, Colchester. After the items were put through the till she asked the cashier to void the transaction for the ink cartridges.

She then tore the receipt and went to get a refund of £93.85 for the cartridges.

The same day she made off from Colchester petrol station without paying £5 for fuel.

On February 2, Goold put £5 of petrol in her car at the Shell garage in Norwich Road, Ipswich, picked up a bottle of motor oil worth £34,79 and asked for a refund on the oil, less the money she had owed for the petrol. She was given £29.79.

Goold’s final offence was on May 8 when she stole a bag valued at £12 from Claire’s Accessories in Ipswich.

Andrew Cleal, mitigating, said Goold committed the crimes after a traumatic start to the year.

In addition to her driving ban, she was given a 12-month community order and must pay a total of £545.43 in fines, costs, and compensation.