AN elderly woman's handbag was stolen as she made her way into church for a funeral, a court heard.

The bag was snatched from the 73-year-old mourner outside the church in Washington Village, Wearside, in June.

Durham Crown Court heard a 17-year-old youth took the bag and then ran to the rear of the church where he passed it to his older brother.

A short time later, the bag came to be in the possession of 19-year-old Darren Clifford, who had been with the brothers minutes earlier, Rachel Hedworth, prosecuting, told the court.

Clifford, who denied a charge of theft of the bag, admitted handling stolen goods.

The court was told the 17-year-old who took the bag was given a four-month detention and training order when he was dealt with recently by the youth court at Houghton-le-Spring.

His 19-year-old brother was given a 240-hour community punishment order by the town's magistrates.

Sentence on Clifford, who asked for the case to go to Crown Court, was adjourned pending preparation of reports by the probation service.

Clifford, of Stockley Road, Barmston, Washington, was bailed to return for sentencing in three weeks.