A WOMAN asked a taxi driver to check the number of a house and then took the opportunity to snatch his cash bag and run off.

Blackburn magistrates heard the bag also contained his personal digital assistant and the total loss to the taxi company was £230.

Carla Leigh Clarke, 25, of Albert Street, Burnley, was convicted in her absence of theft of property belonging to Nisar Ahmed. She was fined £120 and ordered to pay £230 compensation and £30 victim surcharge.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said at the start of each shift each driver was given a PDA and a cash bag containing a float. The driver had called in the incident and the person who had booked the taxi confirmed he had done so for Clarke.

Mark Williams, defending, said his client had initially pleaded not guilty and he would be discussing whether she wanted to appeal the conviction.