A young Wirral woman, who callously burgled her parents’ home stealing almost £4,000, has narrowly avoided a jail sentence - and been taken back into the family home.

Heather Morgan and her partner, Joshua Hoijord, both admitted the break-in and appeared for sentence two and a half weeks ago but both fled from court during a break in proceedings despite being told by the judge not to leave the building.

28-year-old Hoijord was jailed for 18 months in his absence as the judge had already heard his mitigation and today (Monday, March 9) he got another month for breaching bail to run concurrently.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that he and Morgan, 27, - who had been sofa surfing while on the run - were both arrested in Penketh Road, Liscard, Wallasey on Friday evening. He claimed they were going to the police station and she said she was going to her parents’ home for a box of food.

After hearing that Morgan had been under the influence of her partner, Judge David Aubrey, QC, sentenced her to 18 months imprisonment but suspended it for 18 months and ordered her to carry out 20 days rehabilitation activities.

He also imposed a six month drug rehabilitation course and warned her that if she breaches the court orders she would go into jail.

John Ballam, defending, said that Hoijord admitted that he had persuaded her to commit the offences and after fleeing the court they could not return to their flat in Poulton Road, Wallasey and had been sofa surfing.

She had been in Styal prison after her arrest which was “a situation she had never experienced before and does not wish to experience again."

Mr Ballam said that breaching bail had been Hoijord’s idea and “she was very much under his influence.

“Clearly there was a history of domestic violence between them,” he added.

Hoijord was now behind bars for substantial time and “since Friday her mother has been in touch and is prepared to have her back with her and her six-year-old son,” he said.

At the earlier hearing the court heard that Morgan’s young son was being brought up by her parents. She had been living in Poulton Road with Hoijord and on November 13 last year she rang her mum asking if she could bring her some cigarettes.

Her mum said she would but was going out herself first to the dentist. Knowing the family home was empty the two defendants then broke in and stole £3,740 from where Heather knew cash would be kept.

The culprits were identified from security CCTV and were arrested some days later by which time the money had been spent. When interviewed they both admitted their guilt and Hoijord said that he had spent the money on debts, which the court heard that included getting back his impounded car.

In an impact statement Mrs Morgan said she and her husband were concerned about the turn her daughter’s life had taken including being detached from her young son. They hope she can get some rehabilitation as otherwise fear her life would spiral further out of control.

Judge Aubrey said the statement was “poignant” and described Mrs Morgan, a foster mum, as “salt of the earth”. He said she stated, “we have given her everything a girl could want. We just cannot believe she would assist people to steal from us and slander and shame us to anyone who is willing to listen.”

He added it was apparent the defendants had become addicted to Class A controlled drugs.

At the earlier hearing John Weate, defending, said that Hoijord was living in Empress Road, Wallasey, staying with his ex-partner and their three young children. He had been out of trouble since 2012 but drifted into drugs about six months earlier after becoming estranged from his family.