A WOMAN was jailed for 28 days for stealing perfume and repeatedly failing to appear at court.

Kerry Archer, 25, of Kilworth Avenue, Southend, admitted shoplifting £200 of perfume from Boots in Southend High Street in November, 2007.

But since she pleaded guilty, she has twice failed to appear at court in December and March and has failed to attend appointments with the Probation Service for reports to be prepared.

Southend Magistrates' Court heard Archer stole the perfume to buy drugs, but her solicitor Simon Samuels said she was working hard with drug organisations to kick her habit.

District Judge Kevin Gray sentenced Archer to 21 days imprisonment for shoplifting and seven days for failing to appear at court, both to run consecutively.