A TEENAGER who helped her boyfriend burgle a religious meeting house has been sentenced to 18 months probation by a judge at Bolton Crown Court.

Geoffrey Southcote-Want, prosecuting, told the court how Chantelle Walsh, together with John Watson, visited the Friends Meeting House in Silverwell Street, Bolton town centre, on August 27 last year.

While she kept the volunteer staff talking he asked to go to the toilet. When the pair had gone the staff realised a laptop and mobile phone, worth £650, had been stolen. Less than two weeks later the pair returned but left without taking anything. Then on September 15 they went back again and were recognised by one of the volunteers who had been there when the laptop was stolen.

Police were called and although they left before officers arrived, they were later identified and arrested.

Paul Tong, defending, said Walsh, who has since had a baby daughter by Watson, had been influenced by him.

Walsh, aged 19, of Victory Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to burglary and a shoplifting charge.

As well as probation she was ordered to take part in a specified activity programme and pay £650 compensation to the Friends Meeting House plus £800 prosecution costs when she receives compensation for injuries she suffered in an unrelated car accident. Watson was sentenced to 16 months in jail earlier this year for several offences, including the two jointly carried out with Walsh.