A woman, who has been given many chances after being caught shoplifting, failed on Friday in her appeal to escape jail for cheating - but she managed to get her nine-month jail term halved for her latest offence.

Lawyer Wendell Wong, who represented Goh Lee Yin, urged the High Court to place her on probation for two years, proposing a treatment plan which includes her family members making regular "sweeps" of their home for items that cannot be accounted for.

Goh, 32, had been given probation twice before for shoplifting in 2005 and 2007. She was then diagnosed with kleptomania. However, her latest conviction was for duping three victims out of six luxury bags worth $110,700.

In an unusual move for an appeal hearing, Justice Chan Seng Onn directly questioned Goh, asking her if she was "gaming the system". The judge told her that she has been given many chances but there was a limit to it. This after Deputy Public Prosecutor Amardeep Singh had used strong words in urging the court not to allow her to test the system again, arguing that probation was not candy to be given to mischievous children.