A SINGLE mother stole toiletries and food because she was “desperate” after her state benefits were stopped, York magistrates heard.

Hayley Lee King, 22, was appearing before them for stealing items worth £64.62 from Morrison’s Acomb store on February 21.

King, of Middleton Road, Acomb, pleaded guilty to theft and was fined £75 with £40 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Magistrates ordered it to be paid by deductions from benefits, as she is already paying other bills from earlier court cases.

Her solicitor Martin Hawes said she was not a habitual shoplifter and stole because she needed the items.

“She was doing it out of desperation rather than out of greed or to feed a drug habit,” he said.

She had lost her job because of the economic situation in November and lived on benefits until there were “difficulties” and they were stopped on January 30.

On February 21, she and a co-accused, who has already appeared in court, went to Morrison’s and she took items she needed.