A woman has been jailed even though a judge acknowledged she "won't benefit from prison".
Bristol Crown Court heard mum-of-two Aimee Grady failed to take "chance after chance".
Grady, 41, of Clayfield Road in Bristol, committed offences and was handed community orders in May and August last year.
But the court heard she breached them by re-offending, stealing from shops and attacking a security guard.
Grady pleaded guilty to four thefts from shops and assault.
Judge James Patrick jailed her for two years and 11 months.
He told Grady: "You won't benefit from prison.
"You apologised for failing and I hear that apology.
"I hear you want structure.
"The court has bent over backwards to encourage you to rid yourself of addiction.
"I have no other option.
"You have demonstrated an inability and unwillingness to cooperate with community orders.
Neil Treharne, prosecuting, said Grady was captured on CCTV stealing handbags and other items from a Bristol TK Maxx in February.
In April she was seen stealing goods from a Bristol Iceland store and when security man Salem Ahmed intervened she slapped his face and punched him twice.
Grady also admitted shoplifting from Mothercare and Next at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, where she was apprehended from a car.
Grady told the judge: "I messed up.
"I tried, I did miss a couple of reviews.
"My drug rehabilitation requirement finishes in two days and I'm absolutely gutted I didn't complete that fully.
"I understand I'm looking at a lengthy sentence.
"I don't think I'll benefit from prison.
"I don't want to be left to my own devices.
"I really want some kind of structure."
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