A WOMAN stole from two high street stores as she battled with depression, a court heard.
Jean Flanagan, 53, was before Kirklees magistrates yesterday.
She admitted the thefts from shops in Huddersfield on March 13.
Alex Bosman, prosecuting, said that Flanagan entered Marks & Spencer on New Street at 1pm.
She paid for some items in her basket but hid other clothing and food in a carrier bag.
Flanagan was stopped by staff outside the store and the items were recovered.
She also produced a jumper, which she had taken from BHS in The Shambles earlier in the afternoon.
A police station drugs test was positive for opiates, but Flanagan put this down to painkillers.
Magistrates were told that she only had one caution on her record for shoplifting in December.
Flanagan, of Crossley Hall Street, Bradford, told police that she had no idea why she had committed the thefts.
Ian Whiteley, defending, said that his client had money on her and could have paid for the goods.
He said that Flanagan suffered from depression and had recently lost her mother and father.
Magistrates gave her a conditional discharge for 12 months.
However they did order her to pay £85 towards prosecution costs.
