A HOMELESS teenager stole booze from a Barrow shop after her boyfriend was locked up, a court heard.

Alannah Lousie Andrews, formerly of Moorside, Flookburgh, pleaded guilty to theft.

Prosecutor Mr Andrew Travis told Furness Magistrates' Court yesterday how the incident happened at about 9.40pm on May 17.

He said: "The defendant went into the Co-op on Roose Road with an unknown male. They put two packs of Desperado beer in her handbag and left. A customer alerted staff and they checked CCTV and saw the incident.

"On the next occasion the defendant and the male went into Tesco Extra about 10.30pm and went to the alcohol section. They put a two litre bottle of cider in her bag and two alcopops. Another bottle was dropped and smashed on the floor. The man ran off but this defendant was detained.

"She said 'I have been stealing alcohol. I'm sorry, don't arrest me. In police interview she handed in a written statement accepting what she had done and made no further comment."

Andrews pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from a shop.

Miss Maureen Fawcett, defending said: "From the moment police questioned her she admitted what she had done. This was a particularly difficult time for her. Her boyfriend had just been taken into youth custody. She had friends in Barrow and she had been drinking or she wouldn't have done it.

"She was living with her parents until two days ago and they asked her to leave so she's now living with friends."

Magistrates gave a her a compensation order and told her to pay £10.58 and £85 court costs.