A SECURITY officer monitoring CCTV watched as a woman loaded two trolleys with goods worth nearly a thousand pounds.

Blackburn magistrates heard Sidra Fiaz paid for one item before pushing the trolleys out of the Boundary Mill store where she was detained.

Fiaz, 34, of Whalley New Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft from Boundary Mill, Colne. She was fined £200 with £85 costs and £34 victim surcharge.

Passing sentence, the chairman of the magistrates said they were being asked to believe it was a "moment of madness".

"We don't accept that," he said. "This was a pre-planned trip to steal.

"You had bags to conceal the stolen items and there was some thought given to only paying for one item to distract from what you were actually doing."

Samantha Hayward, prosecuting, said the security officer had seen two women enter the store and watched them place items into two trolleys.

He saw Fiaz pay for one item, which got a ribbon on it to show it was paid for, and then leave pushing two trolleys full of stolen goods.

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said Fiaz had gone to the store with her sister who was due to get married.

"They selected the items with a view to sorting out what was needed and what they could afford," said Mr Bakhat.

"She then left with both trolleys and can only describe it as a moment of madness."

Mr Bakhat said his client was concerned about the reaction from her husband and her mother-in-law who she lived with.

"She says it would be disastrous for her if they find out, which they would with certain types of disposal," said Mr Bakhat.

"She is given money by her husband, who is a lorry driver, on a limited basis and says she could afford to pay £40 a month."