A YOUNG woman who burgled two houses in Bradford on Avon has avoided Christmas behind bars after failing to turn up for a pre-sentence report.

Swindon Crown Court was told Maria Mularczyk overslept and missed her appointment with the probation service, which compiles the report.

Recorder Ian Lawrie warned Mularczyk he could make her a 'captive audience' for the preparation of the report by remanding her in custody, but released her on conditional bail after hearing the 21-year-old has no previous convictions as well as drink and drugs problems.

At a previous hearing Mularczyk, of Hillcrest Flats, Highfield, Bradford on Avon, admitted two counts of burglary and one of cultivating cannabis.

Alex Daymond, defending, said his client had drug and mental health issues and had never been in trouble before. She had tried to get another appointment with probation officers and was seeking help for her drug problem.