A mum-of-five stole food in desperation to feed her children, a court heard.

Maria Serban, of Great Pond Street in Dewsbury, pleaded guilty to stealing £50 worth of groceries.

The theft took place at an Asda store in the town on August 6.

Linda Fowler, prosecuting, told Kirklees magistrates that the 51-year-old Romanian paid for one item at a self-service checkout.

She then returned to the store and hid behind a promotional board to stuff other goods into her pull-along shopping bag.

Serban was stopped by staff as she tried to leave the store and detained.

All of the stolen items were recovered.

Serban also asked magistrates to take into account her thefts from Boots and Matalan in Dewsbury.

Mrs Fowler said of the supermarket theft: “She said she only had £2 and had nothing to feed her children.”

Zahid Majeed, mitigating, said that the family had limited income as Serban’s husband is working in the struggling construction industry.

He said: “She says that in desperation she committed these thefts.”

Magistrates gave Serban a conditional discharge for 12 months.

She still has to pay £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge.