A MOTHER of two sneaked into an office at a Redditch curtains and soft furnishing firm and stole a handbag, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Shelley Allcock was spotted as she left the premises of Hang Em High in Millsborough House, Ipsley Street, said Abigail Nixon, prosecuting.

She was arrested a short time later but first denied that she had stolen the handbag and its contents.

Allcock, aged 24, of Slimbridge Close, Redditch, pleaded guilty to theft and was ordered to pay £60 compensation to the owner of the handbag.

After hearing that Allcock was responding to a community order to help her overcome a drugs problem, Judge Andrew Geddes decided that it should continue.

He gave her a conditional discharge for 12 months for the theft.