A glamorous mum who became a heroin addict was dubbed 'pizzaface' after a mugshot showed her dramatically different look following a descent into a life of crime.
defied her Criminal Behaviour Order 20 times and stole more than £1,000 items from high street stores.
Charlene McKerrow, 33, defied her Criminal Behaviour Order 20 times and stole more than £1,000 items from high street stores.
She appeared on a police "most wanted" list and clocked up 75 offences and repeatedly went on the run, sleeping on sofas at the homes of friends in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
This week, despite being branded a "high risk of reoffending" by probation officers, McKerrow was given 20 months jail suspended for two years after she insisted she was now battling to get herself clean whilst on remand behind bars.
At Bolton Crown Court, she appeared via video link from Styal Women's Prison in Cheshire as she admitted 20 breaches of a CBO and seven offences of the theft.
Sentencing Judge Tom Gilbart told her: "You have an appalling history for stealing from shops and repeated anti-social criminality.
"It is well know how hard it is been for town centre shops in the last few years and for frontline staff in particular and you were persistently going into them to steal.
"But you have very troubling and sad personal history and have never had counselling or therapy for your mental health issues relating to your childhood experiences.
"Instead you habitually entered into violent or abusive relationships and you have problems with your accommodation. I have reflected long and hard about your situation but you have now attempted to move away from your drug use and accommodation has been found for you.
"But you know what will happen to you if you fail to do what is expected of you. The graph curve of human improvement is rarely a straight line and perhaps the easier option would be to send you to prison but the best outcome in the interests of the public would be for you to take this opportunity and address your long standing issues with drugs. I suspect other judges might not have given you this opportunity."
The court heard McKerrow was said to have led a "chaotic" lifestyle due to domestic violence she witnessed at home whilst growing up. She was placed in care and left school at 14 with no qualifications.
During her criminal career she attacked passengers on a bus, went on a foul mouthed rampage at a takeaway and was involved in a robbery in which 16 year old girl had a can of beer poured over her head before she was robbed of her mobile phone.
Of the 75 offences, 38 involved thefts and 13 were breaches of court orders and she had been given conditional discharges, community orders and suspended sentences.
In 2013 she was jailed for five years and three months for wounding after she smashed a bottle of lager in the face of another woman leaving her scarred for life and needing 36 stitches.
Following her release she kept dodging parole and supervision appointments and in December 2020 she was issued with a two year CBO for three shoplifting offences, two public order matters and harassment.
The order meant McKerrow was banned from Bolton town centre shops but in the ensuring months she was seen frequenting her old haunts and she repeatedly stole from local stores claiming she had a knife hidden in her pocket.
Miss Gwen Henshaw prosecuting said: "Between June and November 2020, she stole from various shops and on occasion left the victims in fear by claiming she was in possession of a knife whilst she took items.
"In a pharmacy she lifted several items off shelves and hid them under a blanket. When challenged she said she had a knife and left without attempting to pay.
"She then returned to the same store two hours later to steal more items but this time was not challenged as the staff were so fearful that she might use the knife if challenged. There were deliberate and persistent breaches of the Criminal Behaviour Order."
During her spree McKerrow also preyed on stores including Clinton Cards, Poundland, Aldi, Card Factory and stole around £1036 pounds worth of items. She was arrested and locked up last November.
In mitigation defence lawyer Nick Ross said his client had prescribed the heroin substitute methadone.
He added: "She understands that continuing to conduct herself in this way is wholly unacceptable. But there has been a sea-change in her life since she was remanded.
"She has been doing her utmost to the turn the boat round and start a high level of engagement with her methadone reduction programme.
"She is highly motivated - if she given a chance and if she blows it, she will hand herself in."
McKerrow will also have to complete a nine month drug rehabilitation programme and was made subject of a new CBO for five years. She will have to report back to the judge every six weeks as part of court checks on her progress.
