A MOTHER had her purse stolen from the top of her pushchair as she wheeled her child round a store, and, within minutes, one of her bank cards was used in a supermarket, a court was told.

Caroline May, prosecuting, said Althea Fry, 23, had been shopping in Cambridge Road, Harrogate, with her husband and child when she realised her purse was missing from the buggy.

A short time later, her bank card was used in the nearby Asda supermarket to a total of £44.90.

Police viewed CCTV footage, which led to South African-born Quentin John Delance-Holmes. But before he could be arrested, he attempted to use the card again.

When Delance-Holmes, 26, of Dragon Parade, Harrogate, admitted theft, deception, attempted deception and failing to answer bail, he asked for a second theft offence, involving a wallet he claimed to have found in Harrogate's library, to be taken into consideration.

Geoffrey Rogers, mitigating, said Delance-Holmes's troubles began when he lost his job in November.

Harrogate magistrates fined him £225, with £70 costs, and ordered him to pay £44.90 compensation.