A FORMER Skipton drug addict who claimed she was forced into a life of crime and prostitution has died after being sent to jail.

Twenty-five-year-old Georgina Metcalfe, of North Parade, was buried in the town's Waltonwrays cemetery after a service at Christ Church on Wednesday.

On Christmas Eve, Miss Metcalfe had been sentenced to six weeks at New Hall Prison, near Wakefield, after pleading guilty at Skipton Magistrates' Court to theft of a video recorder and a travel bag worth £110.

Shortly after she arrived she complained of a high temperature and abdominal pains. She was admitted to the prison's health centre where her health deteriorated.

She was transferred to Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, on December 27 and died there on New Year's Day after suffering a suspected brain haemorrhage.

Her mother, Angela, has revealed how her 6ft 1ins tall daughter's life was ruined by Drugs.

She said Georgina, a former student of Aireville School, Skipton, had had a daughter six years ago, but because of her drug habit, the baby was given up for adoption.

She said: "Georgie had to face a lot of sadness. Drugs destroyed her life. Sometimes when I spoke to her it was like speaking to a shell.

"She was easily led but she would do anything for anybody. She loved to laugh and dance but couldn't bare people crying. It's very sad."

In August Miss Metcalfe had appeared before Skipton magistrates charged with three counts of theft, obtaining property by deception, forgery and failing to surrender to custody.

Her solicitor, John Mewies, told the bench she had literally been kidnapped from Skipton Railway Station by people she owed a substantial amount of money to for a drug debt.

He said she had been forced to steal goods and to work as a prostitute to reduce the debt.

"These offences were committed by her but not willingly and under duress," Mr Mewies told the court. "Thankfully some of her relatives became aware of where she was and alerted the police and she was speedily arrested."

At the time she had been working to rid herself of her heroin addiction. She was given a 12 month community rehabilitation order, a condition of which was to attend a drug counselling programme.

An inquest was opened in Wakefield by West Yorkshire Coroner David Hinchliff and was adjourned pending further inquiries.

A spokesman for New Hall Prison confirmed that Miss Metcalfe died in hospital and had been ill for some time. She declined to comment any further because an inquest had been opened.