A Stroud woman who committed two burglaries and seven offences of fraud did so 'under the influence of her partner', a judge has ruled.

Judge Ian Lawrie sentenced Justine Randall to a suspended jail term on Thursday, July 19 at Gloucester Crown Court.

Randall, 45 of Rodborough Avenue, admitted the burglaries in Dudbridge Hill on September 23 and September 30 last year.

Randall stole £30 and two mobile phones from one and coins and bank cards from another.

Randall admitted seven frauds of using the bank cards that she stole. She started using the cards at the BP garage on London Road, Stroud, on the same night as the second burglary.

She then moved on to six other stores, all in Stroud on the same day.

Prosecutor Janine Wood said a man could be seen with her on CCTV in the various stores.

Judge Lawrie said: “He is constantly hovering at her elbow when she is making the purchases.

“I can't help but form the view that there is a coercive nature to this.”

There was not enough evidence to bring a case against the male.

Sarah Jenkins, representing Randall, said: “She was drinking too much, and in a relationship with someone who had a class A habit and couldn't afford it.”

The judge imposed a 20-month jail term suspended for two years, and ordered Randall to attend twenty rehabilitation sessions.

He also ordered Randall to pay compensation of £1,000 for each burglary and £560 in court costs.