A 28-YEAR-OLD woman who had gone back to a taxi driver's home late at night saw him take £40 out of a suitcase which he then gave her to go on an errand.

Blackburn magistrates heard Leah George did not return to the house but told someone else about the cash-filled suitcase which was stolen later the same night.

Magistrates heard the case, minus £750 in cash, was found at George's home.

George, of Sackville Street, Nelson, was convicted in her absence of theft of the cash, two passports, six phones and various paperwork belonging to Bashir Ahmed.

She was sentenced to eight weeks in prison suspended for 12 months with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £85 costs.

The court heard after giving George the money Mr Bashir said he would leave the door open.

As she was walking away George met two people, a man and a woman, and told them about the suitcase.

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The man came to her house later with the suitcase and she removed the money.

Trevor Grice, defending, said it was accepted when she was convicted that George had not taken the money in the first instance.

He said both George's parents were alcoholics and she had a 'horrendous' upbringing.

"At the age of seven she was taken shoplifting by her mother," said Mr Grice.

"She had her first child to a taxi driver who had given her a lift home when she was just 13 years old and three years later fell pregnant again," said Mr Grice.

"She now has an addiction to crack cocaine."