A WOMAN appeared in court yesterday after trying to return a £248 trouser suit she found in a shopping centre's toilets.

But Harrogate magistrates were told Bernadette Farrant's attempt to return the suit to the store failed.

Michael Hammond, prosecuting, said the clothing was new stock and none had been sold so Farrant had been asked to return later, when police officers were waiting to arrest her.

Farrant, 21, yesterday pleaded guilty to attempted deception.

Her solicitor, Helen Camidge, said she had turned to crime at the age of 16 when she found out her father, who was a soldier, had committed suicide and not been killed in action as she had been led to believe.

Mrs Camidge said Farrant's latest offence happened when she was short of money after losing her job.

She had a relationship with her boss and, when it ended, she was the one who had to leave the firm.

Farrant, of St George's Road, Harrogate, had found the suit in toilets at Harrogate's Victoria Centre.

She had initially tried to exchange it for a smaller size so she could wear it to job interviews.

She hoped to find work as a receptionist and had an interview lined up.

Farrant was fined £100 with £70 costs for what Mrs Camidge said had been "an extremely stupid exercise".