A 33-YEAR-OLD Darwen woman followed a pensioner around Asda before stealing her purse out of her shopping bag.

But Blackburn magistrates heard that security cameras at the Blackburn store were following Sharon Edna Rooney and the mother-of-two was detained before she could leave the store.

Rooney, of Olive Lane, pleaded guilty to theft of a purse containing £350 and theft of clothing worth £118 from Asda. She was ordered to so 75 hours' community punishment and made subject to a 12-month community rehabilitation order.

Sophie Lorimer, prosecuting, said that a security officer began tracking Rooney after seeing her remove price labels and security tags from items of clothing.

She got close to several females before appearing to follow one women down several aisles, Ms Lorimer said. Rooney then switched her attention to the elderly lady who had her bag hanging on the trolley she was pushing.

The CCTV operator did not get a good view of the actual snatch but he alerted other staff who detained Rooney and found the purse and clothing in her possession.

The purse, which, in addition to the cash, contained a bracelet given to her by her late husband, was returned to the elderly lady, who had not noticed it was missing.

John Dewhurst, defending, said his client had an extensive record which had been fuelled by drugs.

"She is now drug-free and is trying to make a fresh start with her two young children," said Mr Dewhurst.