A WOMAN who admitted stealing a quantity of Christmas gift sets from Boots in Crewkerne denied a further allegation of theft from a Martock supermarket.

Amanda Charles was caught on CCTV in full view of other customers with another woman stuffing their bags full of gift sets before walking out without paying.

She fled the scene in a waiting car but was later recognised from the video evidence.

In another incident she allegedly went to the Co-op in Martock, helped herself to goods and then stopped to withdraw some money from the ATM on her way out.

The 43-year-old defendant, of Meadow Road, Yeovil, was arrested and brought before Somerset Magistrates in custody.

She pleaded guilty to a joint theft of cosmetic gift sets worth £275 belonging to Boots in Market Street, Crewkerne, on November 4.

However she pleaded not guilty to stealing groceries and produce of an unknown value from the Co-op in Martock the following day.

She also denied failing to attend a follow-up assessment at Turning Point in relation to a Class A drugs test on August 8.

Prosecutor Susan Butler said that on November 4 Charles went to Boots in Crewkerne with another female and went to the Christmas gift display and removed a large amount of items.

“She blatantly put them in some shopping bags in front of other members of the public and when a car pulled up outside the defendant left the store followed by the other female and they got inside and were driven away.”

Charles admitted the theft of the gift sets when interviewed by police but said that she had left the other items at the Co-op before making her escape.

A review was carried out of the denied offences and all three matters were adjourned until July 3 when the defendant was ordered to return to the court at Yeovil to stand trial.

In the meantime she was released on unconditional bail.