A woman with learning difficulties has been jailed after 'mean' thefts from carers and friends.
Natalie Butters, aged 24, who is originally from Hatherleigh in North Devon, was living in supported council accommodation in Newton Abbot where she was receiving 24 hour care.
She was jailed after she stole from carers and Good Samaritans who tried to help her and broke the rules of her care regime by going missing from her home and abusing alcohol and drugs.
The police were called to a series of incidents and on one occasion she managed to take out a £100 payday loan which she spent on drugs within hours, Exeter Crown Court was told.
The former teenaged runaway has learning difficulties and the behavioural responses of a child and has repeatedly escaped jail in the past because of her difficulties.
She was jailed by Judge Graham Cottle at Exeter Crown Court after he told her it was time from someone to grasp the nettle. He told her she must learn she is accountable for her actions.
Butters, of Howards Way, Buckland, Newton Abbot, admitted two thefts and being in breach of two suspended sentences passed for previous burglaries.
She was jailed for a total of 30 weeks by Judge Cottle, who told her:"The time has come for someone to grasp the nettle. The report of an experienced probation officer suggests you are aware of what you are doing and enjoy leading a risk taking life.
"The conclusion that is reached is that you have never had significant consequences from your offending and it is likely to continue unless you are made fully aware of them.
"The probation service say there is nothing they can offer as a community penalty. These are mean thefts."
Mr David Bowen, prosecuting, said the initial offences involved stealing money from purses of staff who were caring for her and the new ones involved stealing from a couple who took Butters into their home because they were worried about her welfare.
Mr Paul Dentith, defending, said Butters has the mental understanding of a child and needs help rather than punishment. He said she is currently receiving a specially tailored package of care which she would lose if she is sent to jail.
Care workers Jackie Tallamy and Deborah Kelly were called by the Judge and told him there had been problems with Butters' compliance with her care plan.
They said she had not committed any more offences but the police had been called over disputes with neighbours and other problems.
Miss Kelly said there were continuing concerns for Butters' safeguarding after an incident in which she went to an older man's home and only became concerned about his intentions after he gave her £50 and asked her to call him Daddy.
They said the care package is likely to be reduced shortly because her funding had moved from Torbay Council to Devon County Council, which was reassessing it.
Butters originally comes from North Devon and was a student at Exeter College for a short time. She was the subject of a police appeal when she went missing five years ago, but was found shortly afterwards in South Devon.
Since then she has been living in Torbay and Newton Abbot and the care package was put in place because of fears for her safety when she was found living on the streets.
