A BROTHER and sister worked together to steal almost £100 worth of groceries from a shop in Ludlow, a court heard.

Jane Morse, 40, of Rock Terrace, Ludlow, and her brother, Roger Morse, 41, of The Wildings, Ludlow, pleaded guilty to the theft at Hereford Magistrates Court last week.

Adrian Jones, prosecuting, said the siblings went into the One Stop Shop on April 3 and made their way around the aisles. They took items from the shelves and put them into a carrier bag.

Roger Morse paid for milk but made no attempt to pay for anything else in the bags being carried by his sister.

She was challenged by a supervisor and produced some, but not all, of the items. The total value of the goods initially placed into the bag was £96.75.

In interview they admitted it was them and that no attempt was made to pay for the items.

However at last week's hearing, the siblings disputed the amount that the goods were worth. They said the remaining items that were taken away were worth around £12.

But Mr Jones said the theft was committed when the items were put into the bag with the intention of not paying.

“It's only when she is challenged and produces some of the goods that those are recovered but that does not affect the value of the theft,” he said.

Jane Morse also pleaded guilty to stealing a bottle of aftershave to the value of £54 belonging to Lloyds Pharmacy in Leominster on March 8.

Roger Morse admitted being in breach of a conditional discharge imposed on him at an earlier hearing.

Magistrates ordered Roger Morse to pay £7.50 compensation, an £80 fine, £20 victim surcharge, £100 costs and £80 for breaching the conditional discharge.

His sister was told she must pay £7.50 in compensation, an £80 fine and a victim surcharge of £20 for the offence relating to One Stop Shop.

For the theft of aftershave she was fined £80, £54 compensation, £100 costs.