A 39-YEAR-OLD Shipley woman has pleaded guilty to stealing cash from two charity collection boxes.

Donna Hardy was jailed for 12 weeks, suspended for 12 months, by Bradford and Keighley magistrates after she admitted two counts of theft.

In the first incident, she stole an unknown quantity of cash from the Lord Rodney pub, Church Street, Keighley, on June 24 this year.

The money was for a collection for the Sue Ryder charity which runs Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope.

Hardy had been drinking on the day of the theft, the court was told today.

In the second theft, on April 23 this year, Hardy, of Douglas Crescent, Windhill, who again had been drinking, stole another unknown quantity of money from a charity box, intended for Yorkshire Cancer Research, which was on display at Sainsbury's store in Great Horton Road in Bradford.

After being identified via the store's CCTV footage of the incident, she was arrested in August.

Hardy was also given a supervision requirement for 12 months, ordered to go on an alcohol treatment requirement and low level drug rehabilitation requirement for six months.

She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80.

Suzanne Paige, prosecuting, said one of the thefts only funded a taxi ride and a kebab afterwards.

She said: "She said she dumped the box from Sainsbury's as there was not much money in it.

"In the other incident, she was at the pub talking to staff and took the charity box attached to the bar by a chain.

"She said she bought a taxi ride and a kebab with the takings from the box.

"She was in drink at the time of both offences.

"The April matter did not come to light until she was arrested in August."

Sentencing Hardy, District Judge Susan Bouch told her: "You understand the serious nature of these offences.

"People have given money expecting it to then go to the causes they have given it to.

"Taking from charity boxes is a particularly despicable offence."

In mitigation, Mohammed Hussain said Hardy was "deeply ashamed of herself" about the two incidents.

He said: "She was tearful afterwards.

"She was deeply ashamed of herself and deeply embarrassed. There is an aggravating factor of any theft taking from charity boxes.

"She needs help."