Number’s up for thieving family trio

A grandmother who gambled away her wage on internet bingo sites joined her son and granddaughter on a Christmas Eve stealing spree.

Patricia Skinner (58), son Sam (30) and granddaughter Hayley Ingham (22) went to the Tesco Extra store in Huddersfield Road, Oldham just after midnight, filled a trolley with food then headed upstairs, adding electrical items worth more than £600.

At the checkout they put the most expensive items through first. Mr Skinner began bagging them and walked away to his car with one of the bags .

When Mrs Skinner attempted to pay, her card was declined and neither woman could cover the £1,000 bill with cash from the nearby ATM. They said they would have to return the items but the cashier realised the highest-priced goods had been taken away and called police.

All three pleaded not guilty to theft. Mrs Skinner claimed the family had no reason to steal — but Oldham magistrates heard she had been known to make up to 15 payments a day to online bingo sites

Both Mrs Skinner and Ingham, of Chadderton, said they hadn’t noticed Mr Skinner leave the till — and back at the car didn’t discuss the declined card or see a bag of expensive items.

Mr Skinner, also of Fitton Hill, told magistrates he couldn’t remember exactly what was in the bag he took out of the store.

Magistrates found all three guilty. Mrs Skinner and Ingham were conditionally discharged and Mr Skinner received a 12 month order to carry out unpaid work. The trio was order to pay Tesco £672 compensation.