A SINGLE mother-of-five went shopping with credit cards stolen from another parent's purse, Newton Aycliffe magistrates heared yesterday.

Amanda McGreevy, 32, of Grasmere Road, Ferryhill, took the purse from a handbag at the town's health centre, the court heard.

She used a Lloyds TSB card to obtain cigarettes and £50 cashback from the town's Co-op store, but was caught when an assistant recognised her on a second attempt.

The assistant, Jean Wilson, became suspicious and realised that the name on the card was the same as that of a friend of hers.

She phoned the friend and the police were called.

McGreevy, who admitted stealing and using the card, also asked for four other offences of deception and one of attempted deception to be taken into consideration.

Her solicitor, Lyanne Steinberg, said it was a spur of the moment offence.

Magistrates adjourned the case for reports after hearing that she had become depressed after her sixth child died soon after birth last year.