A WOMAN who stole 34 bottles of spirits and other items worth over £525 told police she did it because “it’s hard to live”.

Leeanne Spragg, 39, admitted stealing the items from Aberystwyth’s Morrisons store on 7 July but was stopped outside the store by a staff member who had seen her.

Steve Davies, prosecuting, said that a member of staff had seen Spragg, of 21 Heol Pwllyplaca, Trowbridge in Cardiff, putting bottles of alcohol in a trolley along with other items and covering them up with bags.

She then walked out of the store with the trolley before being confronted by a member of staff who spoke to Spragg.

Spragg admitted to the staff member that she had stolen the items and returned to the store with the trolley.

After being arrested, Spragg told police officers that she had stolen the alcohol as she was going to sell it to raise money as “it’s hard to live”.

Defence solicitor Alan Lewis said Spragg had been suffering from financial problems at the time.

He said Spragg had been trying to deal with a family member’s illness which required regular hospital trips and had found herself slipping into debt.

Mr Lewis said that, while Spragg had not been in trouble for over eight years, she had given in to “temptation” and decided to try and steal the items from the supermarket.

While Spragg regretted her actions, Mr Lewis said it had led to her admitting to her parents that she was struggling financially and was now receiving help.

Spragg was given a conditional discharge for 12 months. She will also pay costs of £105.