A MOTHER of four turned to shoplifting after running out of cash, Bolton magistrates were told.

Katie Beatie, prosecuting, said Monika Sztojka was stopped by staff at Lidl in Farnworth after putting goods worth £64.95 in a bag and did not pay for them on July 16.

Stztojka, of Southfield Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to shoplifting.

The court heard that she had previously received a caution and a fixed penalty for previous shoplifting offences.

Peter Leather, defending, said Stztojka, who needed an interpreter to follow the court proceedings, came to England from Hungary in March last her with her three children, aged 12, 14 and 16, and in October gave birth to a fourth child.

He added that the single parent had found it hard to budget with the £165 child tax credit and £47.60 child benefit she receives each week and had found herself short of money.

“She believes she can manage her finances better in future,” he said.

Magistrates sentenced her to a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered that she pay £85 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.