A MOTHER has been tagged for 28 days for assisting in the theft of an iPad.

Leanne Sarah Wallace, of High Northgate, Darlington, pleaded guilty to the offence when she appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court.

Sarah Traynor, prosecuting, said the 29-year-old was captured on CCTV taking the iPad along with a man who pulled hard on a display as Wallace leant on it to steady it.

In interview, she admitted assisting in taking the device from NatWest Bank in Darlington on November 26.

The court heard Wallace, who had drunk around 14 cans of Polish alcohol that day, did not benefit from the theft.

Ms Traynor said Wallace had a lengthy record of offending.

Nick Woodhouse, for Wallace, said the mother-of-one did not know what was going to happen in the bank.

She was given a 28 day curfew from 4pm to 4am which would be relaxed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and was also ordered to pay £550 compensation to the bank to cover half the cost of the iPad and the damage caused.

Wallace must also pay a £180 criminal court charge and prosecution costs of £85.