A woman turned to shoplifting to feed herself after her Universal Credit benefits were sanctioned, a court heard.

Abigail Dearlove, 33, started stealing from Co-op stores in the Rochester area in June and continued her spree for weeks while she received no benefit cash.

Dearlove, of Hoopers Road, Rochester, stole food items, meat, alcoholic drinks, washing and laundry products between June and July after her benefits were stopped for nine weeks.

She admitted nine shoplifting offences when she appeared before magistrates in Medway on August 10.

Terry Knox prosecuting said: "She was suffering from financial issues and needed food. There were issues with her Universal Credit

"She stole food and alcohol and other items from three different stores.

"She apologised during interviews and admitted carrying out the thefts and said there was no point in lying to the police."

He also revealed she had a number of police cautions for other theft offences.

The court also heard she stole some of the items to feed herself, but stole others like 10 cans of Stella lager so she could sell them to get some money after a miscommunication with the benefits agency led to her money being stopped.

Magistrates told her she'd carried out a lot of offending in a short period of time because she had found herself in an unusual situation and placed her on a two-year conditional discharge.

Dearlove was not ordered to pay costs or a victim surcharge because of financial difficulties she faced.