A WOMAN sold £43,000-worth of stolen camera and filming equipment for only £2,000 the day after it was taken in a burglary, a court was told.

But Claire MacClean was undone as the purchaser became suspicious realising he got more than a bargain and contacted the company which originally hired out the equipment, only to discover they were stolen goods.

Newcastle Crown Court was told £54,000-worth of equipment was taken in a break-in at property rented by a film crew, at Plawsworth Hall Farm, near Chester-le-Street, on December 1, 2019.

Alec Burns, prosecuting, said the break-in possibly targeted the equipment, hired by the production company for £8,054.

The next day MacClean offered most of the stolen haul for sale, claiming it was left to her by her deceased father.

Mr Burns said once the goods were delivered the buyer realised it was far more valuable than what he paid for, so contacted the rental company which confirmed it had been stolen.

The items sold by the defendant were worth £43,000, but some property was recovered in a damaged state. It left £11,000-worth of the stolen equipment still missing.

MacClean was also before the court for use of a stolen debit card to make contactless purchases five times within an hour of it being taken in a burglary at a house in Alexander Drive, Hetton-le-Hole, from where a number of Christmas presents were taken, on December 22.

On arrest police recovered a stolen iPad, taken in the burglary, from her car.

MacClean, 41, then of South Market Street, Hetton-le-Hole, now of Third Street, Blackhall, denied both burglaries but admitted five counts of fraudulent use of the card, plus two counts of handling stolen goods.

The court heard she has 35 convictions for 88 offences.

David Callan, for the defendant, told the court MacClean was given the stolen bank card by someone who owed her money.

He said she has been a drug user for much of her adult life, never having worked.

Mr Callan said while on remand she has been subject of electronic tagging and a curfew for eight months.

Recorder Ben Nolan imposed a ten-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, during which she must attend 15 probation-led rehabilitation activity days.