TWO women with numerous convictions for theft stole credit and cash cards from elderly shoppers in Bolton town centre then used them to buy goods from a range of stores, a court heard.

Winifred Heaney, aged 43, and Sharon McDonagh, aged 28, travelled to Bolton from Manchester to steal, Bolton Crown Court was told on Monday.

Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, said the fraudsters would "dip" into shopper's handbags to steal their purses and wallets then use them to buy goods.

Heaney admitted three charges of theft, two offences of handling stolen goods and one of obtaining goods by deception.

The court was told that she had 50 previous convictions for similar offences dating back more than 30 years.

McDonagh, who also has a large number of convictions, admitted eight charges of obtaining property by deception, one theft and two offences of handling stolen goods.

The pair now face being banned from shopping precincts in Bolton as Bolton Council has applied for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders to protect the public.

Mr Bassano said McDonagh used stolen credit and debit cards to purchase items including electrical equipment, clothing and computer games, from a range of stores in the town centre.

The haul including two gold chains from Warren James worth £230 on March 26 last year after she stole a shopper's handbag just 15 minutes earlier, the court was told. Mr Bassano said the same card was used later that day at different shops. A day later, the court heard, McDonagh bought a DVD/TV from Martin Dawes with a stolen credit card.

He said: "All of the complainants are middle aged or elderly ladies." Goods were later found at Heaney's house, the court was told.

On April 4 last year, the court heard, Heaney stole the contents of three women's handbags.

The pair were later arrested -- along with a 16-year-old girl who cannot be named for legal reasons.

-- after a stolen debit card was used to buy goods worth £110 from Woolworths. They were found with large sums of cash and Marks and Spencers vouchers. The case was adjourned last night until today. Both were due to be sentenced this morning. The pair, both from the Manchester area, face possible prison sentences.

(Proceeding)