A WOMAN who was confronted by a couple as she burgled their house, was released on bail and within hours was stealing again from cars.

Bolton Crown Court heard how former auxilliary nurse, Gemma Fletcher's drug addiction had "spiralled out of control" and in the early hours of January 15 she burgled a house on Bradford Road, Bolton.

Thomas Sherrington, prosecuting, told how, just before 1am the homeowner decided to go to bed, but when she opened the door to the hallway she was met by 32-year-old Gemma Fletcher, who was rummaging through coats after walking into the house through an unlocked front door.

"She asked the defendant what she was doing in the house. Her response was, 'I have just come from the hospital, I need money for drugs'," said Mr Sherrington.

Fletcher was armed with a brick and the woman called for her husband, who grabbed the burglar and, after a scuffle, detained her until police arrived.

Fletcher is said to have told officers: "It's just what I have to do to get by."

A bag was found which contained stolen items from other properties, including a disabled parking badge.

In a victim statement the householder said: "This incident has made me feel shocked and afraid.

"It was frightening enough that someone was in my home, but for the female to have a weapon was just terrifying."

The next day Fletcher appeared before magistrates and was released on bail, but Judge Graeme Smith was told that the same evening, at 8.45pm, neighbours in Runfield Close, Leigh were alerted to an intruder's presence by Christopher Clementson's motion-activated doorbell.

Video showed Fletcher trying to get into an Audi and, when Mr Clementson went outside, he found her sat in an Astra parked outside a neighbour's house.

A knife was in the car footwell and in her pocket police found a dashcam she had taken from the glovebox of a Transit van which was also parked in the street. Several tools from the vehicle were also found hidden in a nearby hedge.

Fletcher, of Holden Road, Leigh, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft from a vehicle, interfering with a vehicle and possessing a knife.

The court heard that she has a previous conviction for theft and was subject to a community sentence at the time of her latest offences.

Andrew Marsh, defending, said Fletcher's crimes were "as a result of her spiralling drug problem" which began after she suffered domestic abuse.

"It is a desperate shame that this woman has already paid so heavily, not only by the fact that she has been in custody, but also the effect on her family, the loss of her children and the loss of her employment," he said.

"She was employed as an auxilliary nurse at the start of her drug involvement."

He stressed that the victims had not been targeted, but the crimes were opportunistic brought on by her need to get money for drugs.

Judge Smith sentenced Fletcher to 26 months in prison and told her: "Although your circumstances are very sad, I have to take into account the seriousness of your offending and the impact on the victims and risk to the community generally."