A WOMAN stole a man’s debit card and spent more than £200 on it after he refused to give her money to pay back drug dealers, a court heard.

Leanne Edwards, 37, of Ponciau, Wrexham, pleaded guilty at Welshpool Magistrates Court to stealing a debit card, making payments with it and failing to surrender to custody.

The Barclays blue debit card was stolen from David Thomas in Newtown, mid-Wales, on June 19, 2018 and contactless payments were made with it for two days.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, said Edwards had been a regular visitor to Mr Thomas and he had “regularly given her money”.

Ms Trench said Edwards asked Mr Thomas for more cash and he refused.

She then “gave him a sob story and he still refused”, Ms Trench told the court.

The following day Mr Thomas realised his Visa card was missing and contactless payments had been made with it.

Two transactions had been made at a store on the housing estate. Mr Thomas then went to the store to ask to see CCTV.

Edwards was then arrested and interviewed, magistrates heard.

A total of £204.92 was spent on Mr Thomas’s card over the two day period, Ms Trench told the court.

Mr Thomas’s bank was able to repay some of the money.

A probation officer told magistrates Edwards accepted responsibility for the offences and wanted money to “pay off drug dealers”. “She found herself in a lot of debt with local drug dealers.”

The probation officer said Edwards had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had episodes when she did not think rationally.

Edwards had had bipolar disorder for “most of her adult life” started using heroin and other drugs at 15, the court heard.

Probation told the court that she had “successful periods in detox” but that her drug use started up again two years ago.

Edwards had no previous convictions and there was a low risk of her reoffending, magistrates heard.

Euros Jones, defending, said Edwards had come off drugs before and “she can do that once again”.

Magistrates ordered Edwards to pay £270, which will be deducted from her benefits, and gave her a 12 month community order and drug rehabilitation.

Magistrates' chairman Lynette Kretchmer told Edwards: “It was a very unpleasant crime taking advantage of someone while in their own home.

"I know you have no other offences but it’s not a good start.”

The court Edwards had moved to the Wrexham area to live with her partner which was not the “most sensible” thing to do as he was a substance misuser.

Edwards’ case has been transferred to the Wrexham area and her order will be reviewed on Thursday, February 14.