A SAUCHIE woman who sneaked into people's bedrooms and stole from them as they slept has been jailed for more than two years.

Adele Christie was told her crimes were "appalling" and "despicable" when she was sentenced at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, February 6.

The 34-year-old appeared from custody in relation to seven matters: five diets of deferred sentence, and two breaches of community payback orders (CPOs).

Her offences included eight thefts, two bail breaches, one attempt to pervert the course of justice, one fraud, one assault, one instance of malicious mischief, and an instance where she entered the curtilage of a property with intent to steal.

They were committed over a period spanning from May 2017 all the way up to December of last year.

The court heard details of some of the offences from prosecutor Susannah Hutchison, who said Christie repeatedly entered people's homes during the night to steal their possessions.

She added that some items were stolen from a bedside table while the owner slept just inches away.

In mitigation, solicitor Kelly Howe said: "All of Ms Christie's offences and breaches of community payback orders are interlinked and explained, one way or another, by her misusing illicit substances over many years."

Ms Howe also said her client had recently had a child, and wanted to be there for the youngster's early years.

She then asked for an assessment to be carried out, to see whether her client was suitable to be placed on a drug treatment and testing order.

However, Sheriff Craig Harris made clear that Christie was a danger to society while at liberty.

He told her: "I take account of everything that's been said, and the imprisonment I'm going to impose today will separate you from your young child.

"You have been subject to CPOs since 2012; you have breached those orders and shown utter disregard for the two CPOs imposed in 2018.

"You didn't attend a single appointment, and after being found in breach, you failed to attend for court every single time you were granted your liberty.

"You engaged in a crimewave of dishonesty, repeatedly entering people's homes to steal while they slept in their beds.

"On more than one occasion, the rooms in which people were actually sleeping were targeted.

"These are appalling, despicable crimes, and the public need to be protected from you."

He then sentenced Christie, of Lochbrae, to a total of 27 months' imprisonment, backdated to when she was remanded in custody on December 24 last year.