A prolific offender who stole a Christmas wreath during a crime spree has been jailed for several months. 

Charlie Wheeler, of Danesly Close, Peterlee, was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of fraud, theft, and threatening behaviour in the town, a hearing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court was told.

Three days after having stolen a Christmas wreath worth £35 in Hordon on December 8, the 30-year-old found and kept a misplaced wallet containing cash and a bank card.

She then went on a spending spree with the stolen bank card, making several purchases to the value of over £130, as well as more than £100 worth of declined transactions.

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Wheeler, whose surname has also been given as Hedley,  was charged with the offences and appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on January 8, where she pleaded guilty to theft and fraud.

She was handed a 7-month custodial sentence and ordered to pay back the money she had spent.

Magistrates noted in they had decided to jail Wheeler because she "has a flagrant disregard for people and their property, because the defendant has a flagrant disregard for court orders".