STRUGGLING with her finances a woman stole a packet of nappies from a service station.

On Wednesday morning 33-year-old Kirsty Doole of Whitworth Road pleaded guilty to one charge of theft from the Rodbourne Service Station on May 16 when she came before magistrates sitting in Swindon.

The court heard from crown prosecutor Nick Barr that Doole had been spotted by a member of the store’s staff coming into the service station with a pram. She walked around the store and then went into the toilet. She then came out of the bathroom and left the shop.

Thinking her behaviour was a little odd, the staff member reviewed CCTV and saw her picking up a packet of nappies – valued at £4.99 – and left without paying for them.

Doole’s defence, Emma Thacker told the magistrates: “She holds her hands up to this and takes responsibility for this offence. The item was taken because unfortunately she was struggling financially. You have heard she went into the store pushing a pram – she needed the nappies for that child, but she simply didn’t have the funds to pay for them. She is somewhat embarrassed by the reason for this theft.”

The magistrates heard that she was currently on income support, but owed around £140 to the court in outstanding fines and charges.

Sentencing her, chairman of the bench Jonathan Chappell imposed a 12 month conditional discharge on Doole, ordering that she pay £4.99 compensation to Rodbourne Service Station and a £20 victim surcharge, but no order for Crown Prosecution Service costs due to her means.