The girlfriend of a teenager killed in a road crash has been put on probation for 18 months and ordered to do 60 hours community service.

Kelly Duce, 22, stole from three shops in a single shoplifting expedition to York city centre, magistrates heard.

The thefts occurred before Richard Brian Warner, 19, of Westfield Place, Acomb, died in Beckfield Lane, Acomb, York, last month.

Duce's solicitor, Sally Howard, said Duce's boyfriend had died when the car he was in hit a tree and it had been a difficult and traumatic matter for her to deal with.

She had also left the family home over difficulties involving her relatives.

Duce, now of Ayton House, The Groves, York, pleaded guilty to stealing toiletries worth £13.30 from Superdrug, wind chimes worth £4 from Solid Logip and two videos worth £25.98 from Woolworths, all on May 5.

Magistrates gave her 18 months' probation and 60 hours' community service and ordered her to pay £70 costs. She has eight previous convictions for dishonesty, including five committed in a shoplifting expedition with another shoplifter in 1998.

Jim Withyman, prosecuting, said police arrested Duce on May 5 at 3.30pm after a tip-off that she was shoplifting. In a six-minute interview, she confessed to the three thefts.

Mrs Howard said Duce had taken the toiletries for herself as she had no money because her benefits had been cut. The other items she intended to sell. She was trying to kick her heroin habit.