Ex-Birmingham shoplifter thought she would 'die a junkie' before police stepped in

Brummie Keeley Knowles was a self-confessed heroin addict who was funding her habit by stealing designer clothes and handbags around Birmingham

A once prolific shoplifter and ex-heroin addict said thought she would "die a junkie" before police stepped in. Keeley Knowles was a self-confessed heroin addict who was funding her habit by stealing high value items including designer clothing and handbags from shops around Birmingham.

Keeley, who’s in her 40s, openly admits that she had been offending for 29 years and was regularly stealing hundreds of pounds-worth of stock which she'd sell to buy drugs. West Midlands Police estimated that over five years Keeley could well have stolen about £2m -3 million worth of goods from stores.

The force estimated that Keeley paid dealers hundreds of thousands of pounds for drugs over the years of her addiction. However thanks to a pioneering new treatment for addicts, Keeley now lives a "completely different life" and has shared her story as she looks to the future.

READ MORE: Police issue stack of parking tickets after warning Birmingham neighbourhood 'last chance'

Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp

West Midlands Police offender managers encouraged Keeley to try a new monthly injection, called Buvidal, which is a slow-release opioid blocker. It helps remove the user’s desire for heroin and so the need to steal shops and traders is taken away.

"Of course, the person needs to want to change their habits as well," said PC Stuart Toogood, who is part of the Offender to Recovery team who are supporting Keeley alongside the city’s the local drug and alcohol service Change, Grow, Live. "And Keeley wanted to do that very much – she has been amazing and the results have been amazing."

Officers said how they had to be on watch around the clock while Keeley was being treated for severe side-effects of heroin withdrawal – with the longest constant watch being 12 days. They explained how a conversation with a shop owner in a Birmingham city centre store identified Keeley as one offender who was stealing significant amounts of stock from their shelves.

"We identified her and found that despite being jailed numerous times over the previous almost 30 years she was still shoplifting, driven by her drug addiction, but she was open to changing her behaviour,” said PC Toogood.

“We believe that over about five years someone like Keeley could well have stolen about £2m -3m worth of goods from stores and paid dealers hundreds of thousands of pounds for drugs.

“And then there’s the time, the cost and the police resources that have been used arresting, charging and going through the legal process of the courts, as well as time taken at hospitals where officers have had to be on watch around the clock while she was being treated for, in her case, severe side-effects of heroin withdrawal – the longest constant watch being 12 days.

“That has all stopped now. Keeley hasn’t offended for the past 10 months since being on the new treatment – and importantly she is finding a new direction in her life. She’s thinking about enrolling on an Open University course and has applied for a probation peer mentor course."

PC Toogood added: "It’s so positive to be able to work with someone who was having problems in their own lives, committing crime, stealing large amount of goods from stores and repeatedly being jailed and for them to be leading a completely different life now.

"Buvidal isn’t a magic wand but it can be a game changer for those struggling with opiate addiction.” Speaking about her recovery, Keeley said: "I thought I'd die a junky, but thanks to this team and Buvidal I feel fantastic - I wish it had been around years ago.

"I'm enjoying life and the opportunities I'm now getting. I am looking forward to the future."