Ravaged to radiant: Former drug addict mum spared jail after dramatically transforming life - and looks - by kicking habit

Jeanette Fidler, 40, is unrecognisable from the gaunt, drug-ravaged police mugshot snapped ten years ago when she was arrested for stealing to fund her addiction

A former drug addict mum has been spared jail after dramatically transforming her life – and looks – by kicking her heroin habit.

Jeanette Fidler, 40, is unrecognisable from the gaunt, drug-ravaged police mugshot snapped ten years ago when she was arrested for stealing to fund her addiction.

The mum-of-two has now been clean for 10 months and completed an eight-week stint in rehab while awaiting sentence for theft charges.

Fidler looted tens of thousands of pounds worth of valuables from ladies’ lockers at gyms, spas and leisure clubs over the past 12 years.

The former recruitment manager posed as members to sneak past staff and steal cash, credit cards, mobile phones and jewellery.

She appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday, where she was banned from every gym in the country after admitting 12 charges of theft.

But despite having 174 previous convictions, Fidler escaped jail after insisting that she had beaten her addiction after completing a drug recovery programme.

Judge Bernard Lever showed mercy after hearing how Fidler completed the eight-week intensive treatment and now plans to train as a beauty therapist.

Handing her a two-year community order, Judge Lever said: “You have committed more of these offences than I've had hot dinners.

“In the past you have a one person crime wave going round these leisure centres and rifling people's property. It has been distressing to many, many people.

“My natural inclination would be to jail you for a very long time but you have been on this new programme and you are determined to address your drug use which in turn is causing you to carry out these offences to fund you heroin problems.

“I am going to give you the chance to demonstrate that you are committed to turning your life around.”

Fidler, who has two teenage sons, appeared in the dock after being caught red-handed on her hands and knees, rifling through a locker at the Village Gym, in Hyde.

She escaped with four mobile phones, worth £1,900, £285 in cash and a debit card but was tracked down when her hire car was traced to her house.

In 2002 she was jailed for three and six months and branded a "wholesale thief" after she admitted 32 offences of theft or deception with 184 offences taken into consideration.

Last year she was back in court again and jailed for a further two years after she admitted looting 65 more lockers between August 2010 last year and February 2011.

Fidler, from Oldham, claimed she was no longer a drug user after going on an intensive eight week treatment program called Fox Recovery House whilst awaiting sentence.

Her care officer Francine McKeown said: "Her drug use related to issues with her self-confidence and self-esteem.

“She from a very good family and although they support her, they are extremely disappointed.

“Her mother and father, through the years they have decided that they can be involved. She began to discuss these issues in depth to analyse the harm she's caused her family, including her son.

“She has absolutely completed the programme. She stands head and shoulders above the others. In the future she looks to become a recovery mentor herself.”

Jeanette is proof of how drugs take their toll on addicts mentally and physically.

Take a look at the gallery below to see other shocking drug mugshots.