A TEENAGER stole bags of money out of a taxi after she and her friend had been ordered out.

Blackburn magistrates heard the out-of-character offence was to prove costly for Helen Duckett who had just started a sociology and criminology course at university.

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Duckett, 19, of Bailey Close, Blackburn, pleaded not guilty to theft of £125 belonging to Touqir Talib but was convicted after a trial.

She was fined £50 and ordered to pay £1,000 criminal court charge, £300 costs and £100 compensation.

She was ordered to pay at the rate of £5 a week which will take her over six years to pay.

Tracey Yates, prosecuting, said Duckett and another girl were in the taxi after attending a house party.

One of them was sick and the driver stopped and ordered them out.

Duckett reached into the taxi and removed two bags of money before both girls ran off down a side street near to Ewood Park football ground in Blackburn.

They were arrested after a search and cash was found in Duckett’s bag.

Richard Prew, defending, said his client had no previous convictions and had she admitted the offence at the police station would have been given a caution.

“She now faces a £1,000 criminal court charge plus other penalties and that for a student who has not yet received her loan,” said Mr Prew.

“She had been to a party and was intoxicated and there was clearly no pre-meditation.”