A MAN and a woman travelled from Leeds equipped with foil-lined bags to steal property worth £2,368 from Blackburn Boots.

One of them dropped his bag and ran off after being challenged but he and the woman were eventually arrested in a car driven by a third person.

Karen House, 41, of Stanks Drive, Leeds, and Ryan Hughes, 29, of Kentmere Avenue, Leeds, both pleaded guilty to theft from Boots on Sunday.

House was sentenced to 17 weeks in prison for the offence and a further 26 weeks for being in breach of a suspended prison sentence. Hughes was sentenced to 17 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £115 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said the offence was aggravated by the high value and the degree of pre-planning.

“They had travelled from Leeds equipped with foil-lined bags specifically to carry out this offence,” said Mrs Mann.

She said House had left the store with her bag and when Hughes was challenged he dropped his and ran.

“Security staff lost sight of them but they were picked up on CCTV getting into a car driven by a third person,” said Mrs Mann.

“The getaway vehicle was driven away at speed but was stopped later by the police.”

She said Hughes had been out of trouble since 2016 but House had been made subject to a suspended prison sentence in July for similar offences.

Gareth Price, defending, said House accepted it was likely she would be going to prison.

He said she was a reforming drug addict who had been a user for about 20 years.

“She is proud of the fact that she hasn’t used for three months and while that may not seem a lot it is massive for her,” said Mr Price.

“Unfortunately the hangover from those 20 years was a drug debt of £1,000 to people you would not want to owe money to.”

He said the conviction against Hughes in 2016 was for offences in 2014 and he had made great efforts to keep out of trouble.

“There are financial difficulties and he foolishly agreed to go along with this enterprise to raise some money to support his family,” said Mr Price.

Shaun Whittaker, 31, of Poole Road, Leeds, also pleaded not guilty to stealing goods worth £2,368 from Boots and driving without due care and attention on Blackamoor Road, Blackburn.