A WOMAN stole a shopping trolley from Darlington's indoor market before going on a household furnishings theft spree at nearby Boyes.

Bernadette Gilheaney, from Kensington Road, Middlesbrough, said she did not know why she had done it and that she had little memory of the incident, at about 10.30am on the morning of January 12.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court heard that due to bereavement she had declined to take the numerous medications she was on to help her bipolar disorder and this may have led to her decision to steal.

John Garside, prosecuting, said she was caught by security guards with £55 worth of furnishings and the £34.99 shopping trolley and all items were recovered.

Lisa Carney, mitigating on behalf of Gilheaney, said she pretended to be a mute during her police interview, and didn't speak at all, and she wanted to apologise to the officers who were 'very nice' to her, as well as to the victims of her thefts.

Magistrates gave her a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.