TWO brothers who found themselves homeless and penniless after a spell in prison stole sandwiches to feed themselves, a court heard.

Defence solicitor Sonny Lawson said Nathan Young, 23, and Philip Young, 22, were sleeping rough and had no source of income when they each stole a sandwich from Sainsbury’s on Duke Street, Darlington.

The combined value of the sandwiches amounted to £4.90 and the brothers pleaded guilty to theft at Darlington Magistrates’ Court today (Thursday, February 6).

Mr Lawson said the pair had recently been released from custody and had “fallen into a gap” where they were waiting for the relevant authorities to help them find a home and an income.

He said: “They were both homeless, both hungry, both sleeping rough.”

The court heard that that since the theft on January 25, the brothers had been assigned a key worker who had helped them find accommodation on Hartington Road, Stockton, and had helped them apply for benefits.

Mr Lawson said now their lifestyle problems had been resolved, the pair were determined to stay on the right track.

Magistrates imposed a six-month conditional discharge and ordered each man to pay £40 in court costs and charges.