A WOMAN stole toothpaste and deodorant from Boyes Store in Skipton to sell on so she could buy food, heard magistrates.

Rebecca Reynolds, 34, was seen by staff putting items into her handbag and was also recorded on the store’s CCTV cameras leaving the store in Swadford Street without paying, the Skipton court was told yesterday (Friday).

Staff members caught up with her, the police were called and the items, worth a total of £72.64, were all recovered.

Reynolds, who admitted shop theft on August 17, had been on a community order at the time which was due to run until next month, the court heard.

In mitigation, Mohammed Hussain said Reynolds had a long term addiction to opiates which had led to her previous offending , but was now receiving a methadone prescription and was also in the early stages of pregnancy.

She had lapsed back to stealing because at the time she had been transferred onto Universal Credit, her money had not come through, and she needed money for food.

Mr Hussain said when Reynolds was arrested, she was given something to eat at the police station, and it had been the first time she had eaten for days.

Reynolds, of Stanks Drive, Leeds, was sentenced to an additional six months community order with 10 rehabilitation requirement activity days. She will also have to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £90.