IT was third time unlucky for Angela Wallace who was arrested trying to use a stolen debit card in Woolworths in Accrington for the third time in four days.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Wallace had walked out with property worth £43 and £93 on consecutive days in April but was apprehended as she tried to make a £60 purchase two days later Wallace, 29, of Pennine Road, Bacup, pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining property by deception.

The magistrates, who heard that since the offences Wallace had spent several months in custody and had been made subject to a deferred sentence at Bradford Crown Court, imposed a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered Wallace to pay £138 compensation.

Basharat Ditta, defending, said the mother of two had been involved in a violent relationship and considerable pressure had been placed on her.

He said the Bradford Crown Court judge had accepted that Wallace had finished the relationship and had given her a chance to prove herself.

"She has kept out of trouble and it came as a rather nasty wake-up call when she was arrested yesterday, her birthday, and kept in custody until her appearance today," said Mr Ditta.