A SERIAL crook is facing another stint behind bars after admitting a string of burglary and dishonesty charges.

Kelly Chater stole a handbag, which contained a purse and bank cards from a home in Dilbridge Road East, in Colchester, on September 12.

She then used one of the bank cards on eight occasions between September 12 and September 19 to buy food worth between 99p and £5.52.

Opportunist Chater, of Chapel Street North, in Colchester, admitted nine charges in total - including one burglary count and eight counts of fraud by false representation - when she appeared at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday via video link from Peterborough prison.

The bag was taken from the home when the victim arrived at her friend’s house.

The front door had been left open because it was a warm day.

Sitting alone and wearing a purple top, 33-year-old Chater spoke only to confirm her name and to put forward her pleas.

Jane Oldfield, mitigating, told Judge John Devaux Chater had “an unenviable record”.

She added: “It includes numerous sentences of imprisonment and she has been in and out of prison.

“She has a long-standing heroin addiction.”

She added: “When she has not been in prison, she has been homeless, which means she has had difficulty in complying with court orders.”

Mrs Oldfield asked for Judge Devaux to adjourn the case for sentencing in order to “take proper instructions” from Chater and for a pre-sentence report to be carried out by probation service staff even though she “may well have to receive an immediate custodial sentence”.

Judge Devaux agreed to the request and ordered the report on “an all options basis”.

He added: “I feel the contents may be predictable, so I will order a short report.”

Chater, who was initially arrested in Greenstead, near Buckingham Drive, will appear at the same court to hear her sentence in January.

None of the charges relate to a woman who allegedly knocked on doors in the Greenstead area of Colchester asking residents for money to pay for electricity to power a nebuliser for a fictitious sick child.