Woman jailed for failing to do community service

Oct 2 2007 by Lisa Jones, South Wales Echo

A WOMAN who was introduced to prostitution and drugs as a child, turned to shoplifting to get money to feed her habit.

Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard Sherine Friel, 29, was given a 12-month community order in August for stealing £69 of goods from a Boots store.

The court heard she broke the terms of her order after she failed to show up for appointments with probation staff.

Fiona Davies, defending, said Friel, of Broadway, Roath, Cardiff, had stayed out of trouble since August.

She said: “For someone with her problems, that’s quite significant. From the age of 12, she was introduced to prostitution and heroin by her mother.

“She has not been able to live a settled life.”

Sentencing Friel to 80 days’ jail, magistrate Ian Betty, said: “You’ve had a shocking life. You have been given chances to help yourself. You were given community service and you didn’t even attempt it.”