A WOMAN who found herself “skint” used a bar code from a reduced sticker in a supermarket to self-scan more than 100 items of food and clothing, a court was told.

Dionne Straughan, of Landsbury Way, Sunderland, pleaded guilty at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court to fraud by false representation in Stanley, on January 25.

In a reversal of the climax to the long-running game show Supermarket Sweep - where entrants with bulging trolleys competed to tot up the one with the highest value - the 31-year-old put 117 items in her trolley, but sought to keep her bill low.

The Northern Echo:

David Maddison, prosecuting, said Straughan had used a reduced bar code she found on floor in the bread aisle of Asda and placed it on her hand before scanning in some 117 items worth about £200.

All the goods were later recovered and returned to the store.

Paul Donoghue, mitigating, said Straughan was a bright person who had got herself in trouble ten years ago when she started taking heroin. At one point she was classified a prolific offender, but she stayed out of trouble for a long time, he added.

He said: “This offence was not drugs-related.

“She was living with her mother at the time and in her words they were skint and she found (what she thought) was a neat little trick.”

Giving Straughan a one-year conditional discharge, district judge Martin Walker said: “I actually think this was a blip.

“I do think that you have done very well to be keeping out of trouble for so long, which previously you have been in so much trouble, it’s impressive.”

She was also ordered to pay £20 victim surcharge.

It is more than ten years since Asda, owned by American retail giant Wal-Mart, turned its back on the 'Always low prices' slogan, which was launched in 1976.

It was replaced by 'More for you for less', which Asda believed symbolised a broader commitment to quality and fresh foods.