A woman who helped steal 49 items of food from a superstore has been given a conditional discharge.

Flutura Qatja, 35, was spotted with a friend stashing away items as they walked round the Sainsbury's Kidlington store on the afternoon of March 12.

The value of the goods she stole came to £141.37. When police arrested Qatja, of Clive Road, Cowley, Oxford, they found £220 cash in her pocket.

Laurie Kelleher, prosecuting, told Bicester Magistrates' Court: "When she was interviewed she admitted the offence.

"She said she took the items because she didn't have enough money to live on and she wanted to have some spare for later.

"She said it was a mistake, apologised, and said she would never do it again."

Nigel Rees, defending, said out of the £220, she owed £200 because her husband had been dipping into the family funds to finance his drinking.

Qatja was given a 12-month conditional discharge.