A 47-YEAR-OLD woman stole another woman's handbag while they were both attending a charity event.

Blackburn magistrates heard the bag contained bank cards, mobile phones, house and car keys and the keys to the safe belonging to the owners sister.

Tracy Charleston, of Blackburn Road, Great Harwood, pleaded guilty to theft of a handbag.

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She was was made subject to a curfew between 7pm and 7am for 11 weeks and ordered to pay £500 compensation.

Enza Geldard, prosecuting, was attending the charity event at the Poplar Social Club in Wellington Street, Accrington.

Towards the end of the evening she got up to dance leaving her bag at the table where she and her party were sitting.

"When she returned she couldn't find the bag despite a thorough search by her and staff," said Mrs Geldard.

"The following Wednesday she went back to the club with the organiser of the event and they sat down to watch CCTV footage from the evening. She picked out a female leaving the club carrying her handbag over her shoulder."

Richard Prew, defending, said Charleston had no previous convictions and lost her good name as a result of the guilty plea.

"She is seen leaving the club with her own bag in her hand and the victim's bag over her shoulder," said Mr Prew.

"In an inebriated state he has picked the bag up by mistake and taken it out of the club.She has no recollection of what happened to the bag or the contents."