A DAY out with a friend resulted in a mother-of-three stealing £224 worth of alcohol from a Hereford supermarket.

Emma Louise Stanley, 29, pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol from Waitrose Supermarket after visiting the Old Market shopping centre with a friend on September 29.

Peter Love, prosecuting at Hereford Magistrates Court last week, said that Stanley and another man had travelled from her home in Powick, Worcestershire to Hereford and went to the supermarket.

"The man was carrying a newspaper and an empty shopping basket and put several bottles of spirits under his coat," said Mr Love.

"Stanley was seen picking up several bottles and giving them to the man to put under his coat. The pair left the store and made no attempts to pay for the items.

“It was captured on CCTV and she was arrested following the stop of the vehicle she was travelling in. All the items were recovered.

"She was interviewed and questioned about the incident and made no comment to questions."

Shahnaz Dean, mitigating, said that Stanley had gone into Hereford for a day out with a friend, however her male co-defendant had other intentions and she accepts her part in it.

Ms Dean said: “She doesn’t have a lengthy record and has not been before the court since 2012.

“She had been in a stable relationship and that was the reason she was not in trouble. She had settled down with her partner and their two children and young daughter from another relationship.

“Unfortunately that person carried out a robbery against her sister where he had burst into her house and took a number of items causing the relationship to break down.

“He was sentenced for that and since then Stanley has been up and down and struggling with three children.

"She is extremely ashamed of herself and apologises to the court. She didn't benefit and was not offered any payment from the other man who has also been brought before court as well."

Magistrates gave Stanley a conditional discharge for 12 months.

She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.