A WOMAN stole food and groceries to feed her family after her benefits were stopped, a court heard.

Lucy Hill was caught taking chicken and washing powder from a Kidderminster Spar store on October 1, after first stealing more meat two days earlier.

Kate Price, prosecuting, said the first theft happened on September 29, at about 6.30pm, when she filled a bag with meat products before leaving the store without paying.

"The defendant went into the Spar - she had a bag with her. She decided to pick out meat and a packet of chicken and left the store," she said.

"She then went back to the store two days later and took chicken and some washing powder.

"She was observed in the Spar the second time and was approached and challenged and the police were called."

The 35-year-old took a total of £58.01 worth of products, of which the meat was not recovered and the chicken on the second instance was not resalable.

In mitigation, John Rogers said Hill, of Westcott Road, Kidderminster, felt she had no choice but to steal the items.

He said: "She received Employment Support Allowance, and from that income she maintains her partner and their 18-month-old child. The payment had been sanction because she failed to keep an appointment with the Job Centre, so what she will say is that it was necessary that she committed this offence.

"You can see from the items she stole, they are food and groceries, that she was doing it short-term for her family."

Hill pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from a shop when she appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, October 16.

Stephen Gillespie, chairman of the magistrates, ordered Hill to pay a £75 fine, £51.01 in competition, taking out the cost of the washing powder which was recovered and resold, £85 in court costs, and a £20 victim surcharge.