A St Philip's woman has been locked up for four weeks after stealing jeans and air fresheners from shops in Bristol city centre.

Claire Cosens, 34, of New Kingsley Road, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft when she appeared before city magistrates.

She admitted taking three pairs of jeans worth £36 from BHS on Thursday and nine air fresheners worth £45 from Savers on June 20.

Cosens also admitted failing to surrender to the court on Tuesday and failing to comply with a community order.

Crown Prosecutor Saed Jamal said Cosens, who is banned from the Broadmead shopping area, was spotted on CCTV and staff at Savers were alerted when she entered the store.

She said the defendant placed nine air fresheners in her bag and left the shop without paying.

Ms Jamal said Cosens told officers she had been pressured into committing the theft by a threatening man, but said she was unwilling to press charges against him.

The prosecutor said Cosens threatened to bite a security officer who tried to stop her getting away with the three stolen pairs of jeans at BHS.

She said a test at a police station revealed Cosens, who is a mother, had cocaine in her system.

Will Palmer, defending, said: "She managed to keep herself out of trouble for a long time, but drugs reared their head again and it takes a lot for addicts to get themselves over the hill to never go back."