A WOMAN who left her handbag on the back seat of her car when she parked up in Clitheroe returned an hour later to find it had gone.

Blackburn magistrates heard Neil Smith and a teenage friend were reported to the police when they tried to sell the proceeds of their crime.

Smith, 20, of Castle View, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to theft of a Next handbag, Gucci purse, bank and store cards, two pairs of sunglasses, an iPhone, perfume and Jaguar car keys.

He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £150 compensation. The juvenile, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to the same charge and was made subject to a referral order for five months.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said the woman had parked up in Clitheroe near to her partner' home. She returned an hour later and found the car door open and her property missing.

"The police received information that the defendants had turned up at some flats trying to sell the items," said Mr Robinson. "They were arrested and some of the property was recovered."

He said the £100 handbag and two pairs of sunglasses worth £540 were not recovered.

Ben Leech, defending Smith, said the defendants had seen the car with the door open and the handbag on the back seat.

"They though everything was recovered except the handbag which was thrown over a bridge," said Mr Leech.