A MOTHER-OF-TWO, who won asylum in the UK after fleeing Cameroon where she had been sold by her father, went on a shoplifting spree at charity shops.

Doris Tima-Pouossi, who found sanctuary in Britain as a 16-year-old, targeted six shops in Skipton on September 9, the town's magistrates heard yesterday.

Among the haul found in plastic bags in Birtwistle's Yard in the town centre were dresses, jewellery, shoes and clothing, all stolen from charity shops.

The 20-year-old, who pleaded guilty to theft, had struck at Sue Ryder and 1A in Keighley Road, Martin House in Sheep Street, Cancer Research and the British Heart Foundation in High Street and Sense in Newmarket Street.

Several bags of stolen goods were found in Birtwistle's Yard and some were identified as belonging to Sense.

When Tima-Pouossi, of Oatland Close in Sheepscar, Leeds, was arrested, she was in possession of three other bags containing stolen goods.

Magistrates, who learned she had recently been cautioned for shoplifting, sentenced her to a six-month community order in which she must also take on a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement to address her welfare issues.

The court heard she had not intended to commit theft when visiting Skipton and is concerned the offence will impact on her ambition to win a university place to study radiography. She is on a limited income and had debts of £3,000, the bench was told.

Following a stand-down report, the court heard she had been sold by her father as a 14-year-old to an abusive man, from whom she had escaped and fled to the UK where she was granted asylum.

The father of her children gave her no financial support and, on the trip to Skipton, she was tempted into taking items for herself and her children.