A BIG Issue seller stole £80 from a partially sighted customer, a court heard yesterday.

Bianca Mihai, who took advantage of her friendship with the victim, was yesterday branded despicable by a judge.

Mihai was told by Judge Christopher Prince at Durham Crown Court: “I have watched you hang your head in shame in court today, and so you should.

“You have brought shame on yourself and possibly disrepute on other sellers of the magazine, many of who depend on it to keep some form of life together.

“It would be a shame if people who were otherwise inclined to buy a magazine were deterred from doing so because of you.”

Mihai, who is now banned from selling the magazine, admitted theft at an earlier hearing, and has previous convictions for shoplifting. The 30-year-old Romanian, now living in Fairholm Road, Fenham, Newcastle, was ordered to perform 100 hours of community work.

Judge Prince said: “To steal from a partially sighted lady who trusted you and was only trying to help you by buying a magazine is quite despicable.”

David Crook, prosecuting, told the court the victim, a 22- year-old woman, offered to buy a copy of the magazine when she came across Mihai at her pitch in the Market Place, Durham.

Because she had no money, Mihai escorted her to a cashpoint to help her make a withdrawal.

Mr Crook said: “The victim’s bank card was inserted and the machine correctly dispensed £40 twice over. Each time, Mihai put the money in her pocket and told the victim none had come out.”

A woman oversaw what took place and alerted a passing police officer.

Mr Crook said the victim “feels foolish” for trusting Mihai, but dismayed that someone she considered a friend should steal from her.

Ron Mitchell, for Mihai, said: “About the best thing that can be said is that the money was recovered.”

He added that Mihai, who has not been before a court for three years, wanted to apologise to her victim.