A STUDENT given a place to stay by her friend repaid her by helping herself to jewellery worth £1,600, a court heard.

Burnley magistrates heard how depressed Lisa Wilson, 23, then pawned the haul for £200 but claimed she intended to return it.

Wilson, who is at university and hopes to become a social worker, was given a six-month community order with supervision.

The defendant, of Pine Street, Nelson, admitted theft between June 26 and October 9. Bench chairman Susan Hughes said hopefully Wilson could get her life in order.

The court was told Wilson took a gent's gold ring, a bracelet and a charm bracelet from the victim's house at Judgefields, Colne. One of the items of jewellery was recovered from the defendant's home. The other two were found at Cash Converters.

David Leach, defending, said: "It was a very foolish mistake. She had such a relationship with the people she was living with at the time that had she asked to borrow £200 the likelihood is they would have lent it her."