A CATSHILL mother-of-two, branded by a judge as a serial shoplifter, has lost her appeal against a 20-week prison sentence.

Emma Wilson, 24, was arrested in January after stealing icecream and chocolate worth a total of £5.25 from Bromsgrove’s Blockbuster store.

The offences were only 15 days after being given a conditional discharge for stealing perfume from Boots, Michael Aspinall, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court.

He said Wilson of Goodwood Road had 13 previous convictions for shop thefts, starting in 2003.

Julia Powell, defending Wilson, said she had a dreadful record for acquisitive crime but had been trying to cure her drug habit. She had children aged two and four, currently being looked after by her father.

But Judge John Cavell, sitting with magistrates, rejected her appeal against the sentence saying she had ignored previous chances to go straight.