A PAIR of thieves who stole a woman's handbag before going on a £200 spending spree through Helston and Porthleven with her contactless bank cards have found themselves before a court.

Steven James Palmer of Nanscober Place, Helston and 56-year-old Martine Andrea George-Smith, of Dolcoath Avenue, Camborne admitted indicated guilty pleas to stealing Louise Griffin's bag from Helston on September 30, which together with its contents was worth £80.

They admitted using Ms Griffin's bank cards to make two purchases worth £44 of £30 and £14 in Helston Sainsbury's, spend £45.69of £20.48 and £25.21 at Porthleven Coscutter and make four transactions worth £41 at the Harbour Inn, Porthleven.

Palmer, aged 34, also pleaded guilty to further charges of fraud by using the cards at the Turnpike Garage Spar for £45.21£25.21 and £20.01, and at Helston Grill for £25.21, as well as to driving a Peugeot 306 along Clodgey Lane on the same date without insurance, against the terms of a licence and when he had 1,198 microgrammes of Diazepam per litre of blood - more than twice the maximum limit.

He was ordered fined £80 by magistrates in Truro to pay £303.45 in compensation and costs, ordered to pay £118.45 compensation and £105 costs, as well as plus attend a rehabilitation programme for 19 days. He was banned from driving for three years. George-Smith was ordered to pay £503.45. fined £250 and ordered to pay £118.45 compensation, £105 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.