THE same day that she had been placed on probation for shoplifting in Rochdale, a Bacup woman went out and carried out a further theft, a court heard.

Jacqueline Louise Mulcahy, 32, of Co-operation Street, admitted stealing three ladies tops worth £36 belonging to Marks and Spencer on the say day she had been made subject to a six months rehabilitation order by Rochdale magistrates for stealing £260 worth of champagne from Tesco's.

Because of her financial plight the magistrates had waived court costs when placing her on probation. When she reappeared in court for the second offence, which she admitted, the bench ordered costs of £118 and increased the length of probation from six to 12 months.

Her lawyer, Mr Steve Connor, said single mother of two Mulcahy had not even attended her first probation meeting before committing the second offence. It was vital that probation be involved and that Mulcahy be given the chance to respond to the various rehabilitation programmes.

An earlier hearing was told that Mulcahy had undertaken a premeditated shoplifting expedition out of financial desperation, having to look after one child suffering spina bifida and another who was growing so rapidly that at the age of 14 he needed size ten shoes and the cost of clothing him had left her so financially "embarrassed" she had considered keeping him off school.

Mulcahy had a previous shoplifting conviction from Rossendale magistrates but the court heard that the shoplifting related to that desperate period in her life.