A HANDBAG thief had her jail term increased on appeal, but will still serve the same amount of time behind bars.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Claire McMillan, 19, had committed a "catalogue" of offences and had been sent to prison for a total of six months and seven days by the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Magistrates.

Judge Raymond Bennett increased the term to five months for the handbag theft instead of the one month imposed by the lower court, but made the other sentences concurrent, reducing the overall time to be served to five months.

The judge, sitting with two justices, said he thought the magistrates court could have been justified in imposing five months for the theft. He added the appeal courts had the power not only to reduce sentences, but to increase them and the bench could have given serious consideration to the latter.

McMillan, of Rectory Road, Burnley, had appealed against the sentence of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Magistrates. She had admitted two counts of theft and two of obtaining property by deception.

Neil Standage, for the Crown, said the victim had her handbag stolen while she was tending her child in the library and the appellant later went into a post office and cashed a child benefit book. She also went in later and withdrew money from a Post Office savings book.

She was bailed for assessment for a community rehabilitation scheme and went on to pinch nine packets of bacon.

Mark Stuart, for McMillan, said she had had difficulties in her family background and the only way not to commit offences was to get treatment.