A WOMAN ran a complex designer clothing scam to cheat a store out of hundreds of pounds.

Blackburn magistrates heard Farhana Issa bought high-value items online and then transferred the labels onto inferior goods before returning them to TK Maxx in Blackburn.

Issa, 44, of Faroes Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud by false representation. She was made subject to a curfew for six weeks and ordered to pay £180 compensation.

Samantha Hayward, prosecuting, said the offences were all committed in September. In the first Issa purchased a pair of Stella McCartney trousers for £180. She removed the labels from the garment and put them on an inferior product which she returned and claimed the refund for the high value item.

She repeated the offence with a £300 Balmain shirt and a £300 Givenchy red silk blouse.

Miss Hayward said Issa had a previous conviction for fraud in 2017.

Issa, who was not represented, said she was extremely sorry. She said she was a single parent and was supporting her children.

"I don't know why I did it," she said.