A THIEVING couple who preyed on unsuspecting pensioners have again appeared in court.

Josef Byhar and his wife, Kveta Bihariova, both aged 36, faced magistrates in Bolton yesterday and their case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports to be prepared.

The couple, who live in Bradford Road, Farnworth, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of theft and asked for nine of other identical offences to be taken into account.

According to police, the pair were responsible for at least 10 thefts in the past 12 months.

Byhar distracted elderly women by talking to them while his wife snatched purses from their handbags.

Byhard and Bihariova were captured on in-store CCTV cameras in November as they stole a purse containing £350 from Mary Riley in the Late Shop in Market Street, Westhoughton.

Police released the images to the Bolton Evening News and they were published in the paper with an appeal from detectives urging readers to help catch them.

A search warrant was executed at the couples home and items were found that linked them to a string of robberies.

The couple will return to court on February 28 to be sentenced.