A WOMAN who stole a pair of boots from Marks and Spencer tried to claim they were a gift from her husband, a court heard.

But when police spoke to the husband of Helen Catteral, aged 50, of Dale Lane, Appleton, he told officers he knew nothing about them.

Catteral pleaded guilty to theft at Halton Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Alison Warburton, prosecuting, said the defendant stole the boots, worth £95, from the M&S store in Widnes Shopping Park.

She put them in her bag, went to the food hall to buy other items, but did not pay for the boots.

After leaving the store, she was arrested.

During her police interview she claimed to be swapping a pair given as a gift from her husband, but forgot to pay for them.

Catteral, was fined for two previous thefts in January, and has four previous convictions in total.

Magistrates sentenced her to a 12 month conditional discharge.

She will also pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £15.