Legion charity boxes taken in thieving spree

A THIEF stole four charity boxes as part of a three-month shoplifting spree in Accrington.

Claire Louise Townsend, of Edgar Street, Accrington, stole three Royal British Legion charity boxes and another charity box from Matthews Card Stall in the Market Hall in aid of the Air Ambulance.

The 29-year-old also stole a black Samsung S5 mobile phone worth £150 from Lets Connect, two Richie Parker coats worth £120 from Store Twenty One, two Babyliss lady shavers worth £26 from Wilkinsons and clothing worth £29 from Peacocks.

She also stole an Apollo wireless speaker and three dynamode blutooth speakers worth £40 from Haris Karim and three handbags worth £60 from Julie O’Hara.

Townsend pleaded guilty at Blackburn Magistrates Court to 10 counts of shoplifting and two counts of failing to surrender into custody having been released on bail. She was given a 12-month community order with a six-week curfew, a nine-month drug rehabilitation activity requirement and a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £425 compensation and £100 costs.