TWO hard-up Isle of Wight women who stole from a discount superstore, then targeted the same premises the next day, were slammed by an Island magistrate for their stupidity.

Annabel Claire Calvert and Angela Donna Sullivan admitted joint back-to-back shoplifting offences at Home Bargains, Gunville, on consecutive days in July.

On July 10, they entered the store, taking £127.14 worth of items, then putting them into a Mini, without paying, said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The following day, each had a trolley, with Sullivan, 42, and Calvert, 38, both putting items into bags and paying for a couple of items before they again loaded the same Mini.

However, the police caught them red-handed and items were recovered — Calvert's items totalling £146.96 and Sullivan's, £110.71.

Sullivan, of Brickfield Close, Newport, told police she had been struggling financially and needed the likes of cleaning products, but Mrs Smout told the bench the receipt included cosmetics and a five-man camping tent.

Unemployed Calvert, of Lowtherville Road, Ventnor, who said she had cash problems in lockdown, said the theft had been one of her erratic decisions.

For both, Oscar Vincent said his clients were sorry, had written letters of apology to the store and had their attempts to return the items of July 10 refused.

Calvert and Sullivan were each fined £120, with £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge, and ordered to pay £63.57 compensation to Home Bargains.

Presiding magistrate, Gillian Dale, told them: "What a stupid thing to have done. There are always consequences, so just remember that the next time you're tempted to do something like that again."