Winona 'may have shoplifted to fund painkiller addiction'

Winona Ryder may have shoplifted to get fast cash to fund an addiction to painkillers, according to her probation report.

The report was released after Ryder was sentenced to probation and community service for stealing from a Beverly Hills department store.

It notes she had eight different painkilling drugs and a syringe on her when she was arrested for shoplifting last year.

The probation officer who evaluated the star states: "It would appear that the defendant is addicted to pain medication and may possibly be shoplifting in order to obtain quick cash in order not to leave a 'paper trail'."

The papers also show Ryder used the alias, Emily Thompson, to get some of the prescription drugs which included Valium and Diazepam.

Ryder was arrested on December 12 last year after stealing around €6200 worth of designer merchandise from exclusive Saks Fifth Avenue. She hid goods in shopping bags after cutting sensor tags off items while in a changing room.

Ryder, 31, denied stealing but was convicted of grand theft and vandalism after a jury trial last month. She's been ordered to carry out 480 hours of community service at several charitable foundations and given three years' probation.

She was also ordered her to take part in a drug and psychological counselling programme and to pay nearly €10,000 in court fines and compensation to Saks when she appeared before Judge Elden Fox at Beverly Hills Superior Court.

Ryder was also told she must only use her own name, age and address when obtaining prescription drugs.

She was ordered to spend 240 hours at the City of Hope, a hospital for the terminally ill, 120 hours at The Foundation for the Junior Blind and 120 hours at the Foundation of Caring For Babies With Aids.