A WOMAN stole a £75 coat on impulse because she liked it, a court has heard.

Lucy Francis Elizabeth Brack, 22, admitted theft from a shop and breaches of three conditional discharges imposed for similar shop thefts when she appeared before Darlington magistrates.

The court heard Brack, of Eldon Street, Darlington, went into the town's Marks and Spencers on February 27, and tried on a coat before leaving the store with it over her arm, making no attempt to pay.

Blair Martin, prosecuting, said staff were alerted when the coat hanger fell to the floor but were unable to stop her leaving the building.

She was identified by police on CCTV and arrested next day - wearing the stolen coat.

Jane Scott, mitigating, said Brack had been in financial difficulties since before Christmas when her benefits were stopped.

She said: “She went into Marks and Spencers on that day and she has described what happened as a crazy idea – she saw a coat that she liked, tried it on and it was at that point she made the decision to pop it over her arm and walk out. It was spur of the moment.”

A probation report noted that Brack is already subject to a community order and would be suitable for a curfew. Sentence was adjourned to allow Brack to move into a new property before the curfew is imposed.