A GIRL who was barred from a shop after being caught stealing returned twice more to steal goods and daubed the outside of the building in graffiti, a court heard yesterday.

The 14-year-old stole confectionery and cans of lager from the Darlington store, after staff banned her from entering the shop when they caught her stealing newspapers in August.

Darlington Youth Court heard that the girl - who cannot be named for legal reasons - also defaced a window of the shop after staff told her to leave.

Magistrates gave her a three-month action plan and ordered her to write letters of apology to the store and her mother. They also warned her to keep out of trouble.

David Bryson, prosecuting, said all of the stolen goods had been recovered by staff who pursued the girl from the shop.

Graham Hunsley, in mitigation, urged magistrates to consider the problems the girl was experiencing.

Magistrate John Robinson, sentencing the girl, warned her behaviour was affecting her family.

"We are concerned about not only your mother but about you and the people you are mixing with," he said.

"You are a 14-year-old girl who has been here more than she should - we do not want to see you here again."