A former heroin addict turned to alcohol to beat her addiction but was caught shoplifting when she took two cans of lager to feed her new problem, a court heard.
Lincoln magistrates were told police recognised the 31 year old on CCTV footage taken at the store on Brayford because she has some 87 previous convictions for shop theft.
She was passed two cans of lager by a male companion which she then took outside without making payment.
The defendant from Lincoln admitted theft of lager worth £3.60 on May 21.
Sunil Khanna, representing, said the woman had beaten a drug problem by using alcohol and she was now working with the Probation Service to conquer that addiction.
Magistrates took account of her good progress and conditionally discharged her for six months and ordered her to pay £30 costs and £3.60 compensation