TWO fraudsters combined to get a £1,200 MacBook without paying from John Lewis at Vangarde shopping centre, York magistrates heard.

But when one of the fraudsters returned the next day to the store and tried a second ID theft fraud, she was arrested.

Sonia Alexander, 42, of Belvedere Mount, Beeston, Leeds, pleaded guilty to fraud and attempted fraud and was given a 12-month community order with 10 days' rehabilitative activities. She must also pay £600 compensation.

A probation report to the court said that she was very vulnerable, was being manipulated by men and had mental health problems.

Prosecuting, Katy Varlow said a man ordered the MacBook over the phone using a credit card and gave a false name for the woman who would collect it the next day. That woman was Alexander, who used a debit card in the false name as ID. She took the computer and returned the next day to set up a store card account in the false name, but the store realised something was wrong and she was arrested.