A TEENAGER and her stepfather who worked at Bolton's Amazon distribution centre have admitted stealing more than £5,000 of goods.

At Bolton Magistrates' Court 18-year-old Kira Odowd and Daniel Holding, aged 31, both pleaded guilty to theft by an employee.

Ann Deakin, prosecuting, told the court how the pair, who worked for TCFF, a company providing cleaning and other services to the centre in Over Hulton, were caught by a security guard stuffing items, including Apple ear pods, into bags.

Miss Deakin said that on June 13 a security guard was conducting checks at gate posts throughout the large complex at 9.10am when he came across Odowd and Holding inside a bin compound.

"They were actually standing in a large skip and Mr Holding was emptying items from the bin into clear plastic bags," said Miss Deakin.

"The security guard confronted them both, took the inventory from them and escorted them to reception and police were called."

She added that when the bags were examined they contained electrical goods, including Apple ear pods, with a total of £5,198.93.

The court heard that Odowd is of previous good character, although Holding has 15 convictions including three for dishonesty.

Mark Ferguson, defending Holding, told the court: "This is essentially two people who go to work, who are both financially hard up and decide, on the spur of the moment, to take items which don't belong to them.

"It is not a mastermind operation. They simply put bins which contained valuable items from one part into another bin where the recycling takes place, which is where their job is involved.

"It was within minutes that they were seen by a security guard who was doing the rounds who noticed them being in an area where they shouldn't be."

Odowd and Holding, both of Arley Close, Aspull, are due to be sentenced on February 16 after pre-sentence reports on them have be prepared by the probation service.