A WOMAN who walked out of a store with a trolley full of groceries without paying and then came back a week later and tried to steal exactly the same amount was made subject to a community rehabilitation order by Rochdale magistrates.

Mother-of-seven Catherine Helen McCann, 38, of Chedworth Crescent, Little Hulton, admitted two charges of stealing goods worth £182 from Tesco at Rochdale.

Although the magistrates said they were concerned at the pre-meditated element of the offences and McCann's record, they took into account her circumstances in making the 12-month rehabilitation order and waiving costs.

Gavin Howie, prosecuting, said a security guard tried to stop McCann on the first occasion but because of the milling shoppers he was only able to get the registration number of a departing car. However McCann was back a week later trying the same shoplifting operation and removing the same amount of goods, but this time she was detained and arrested.

McCann said her husband died in February and she was in debt to a substantial amount and that had driven her to steal.