A HARD-UP young mother conned shopping out of Asda stores throughout East Lancashire with a stolen credit card.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Marie Haslam, 24, struck at the stores in Colne and Burnley, and was then caught out at Accrington. The defendant, of Piccadilly Road, Burnley, admitted handling stolen goods, two deception charges and attempted deception.

She was bailed until October 3 for a pre-sentence report. John Rusius, defending, said Haslam was given the stolen credit card and saw the opportunity to make a bit of money. Haslam, a single mother, was short of cash. She had not been before the court for 17 months and realised she had been stupid.

The offences were a "blip" on the horizon.