TWO teenagers who carried out a two-day shoplifting spree in Selby have appeared in court.

Staff at Morrison’s in Market Cross spotted the pair behaving suspiciously on November 19 but were unable to prevent them getting away with razor blades worth £476, said Martin Butterworth, prosecuting.

The same day, Thomas Mullaney, 19, and a 17-year-old companion stole perfumes and aftershave worth £296 from Wilkinson in Abbey Walk. When they returned the next day and tried to steal another £298 of perfume and aftershave, staff were alert and they fled emptyhanded.

Mullaney, of Gipton Gate West, Leeds, who was unrepresented, told the court he had been thrown out of his accommodation shortly before the thefts and decided that he would be better off in prison.

Since the thefts, he had a new place to live and a job. Magistrates fined him £65 and ordered him to pay £381 compensation, which is half the value of the items the pair stole, plus £15 statutory surcharge.

Mullaney admitted two charges of theft and one of attempted theft, as did the 17-year-old, from Seacroft, Leeds. He cannot be named for legal reasons. Magistrates sent him to Leeds Youth Court for sentence on January 12. He was released on bail.