Bianca White, 18, of Otley Road, St Annes, pleaded guilty to theft.

She was sentenced to 120 hours unpaid work for the community, by Blackpool magistrates.

Martine Connah, prosecuting, said a woman put her handbag on a bench at Wetherspoons pub, St Annes on December 24 about 11.15pm.

Minutes later the bag, valued with its contents at £420, had gone.

White was identified from the pub's CCTV footage.

Steven Townley, defending, said his client was doing a college course in hairdressing and also worked as a dancer in a nightclub.

Just before Christmas her mother had moved to Rochdale and her only relative in the area, her grandmother, went away for Christmas.

Mr Townley added: "She was alone and spent most of her time in the pubs, so at least she had some company.

"She drank too much.

"A friend pointed out the handbag and White took it.

"She then took the bag to a friend's flat and never saw it again.

"She made no financial gain from the theft."