A WOMAN used a stolen credit card to buy a series of goods from a Worcester store, a court heard.

Magistrates in Droitwich were told that Katherine Melville, who is now heavily pregnant, was arrested after she went to the Argos shop in The Shambles three times in one morning.

Melville, aged 24, was challenged as she tried to buy jewellery, valued at £34.48, on Tuesday, October 31.

She had already bought a set of drums and two mobile telephone vouchers, valued at £59.99, a dish and ornaments, valued at £52.98.

"Staff became suspicious because she had been to the shop twice earlier that day and they called the police," said Susan Cliff, prosecuting.

"She was arrested and admitted using a stolen card."

Melville admitted two counts of obtaining goods by deception and one charge of trying to obtain goods by deception, by using a Barclay Connect Card in the name of H Fowler, as well as receiving stolen goods.

She also asked for an offence to be taken into consideration, of using a stolen card to buy two pairs of jeans from Jeans Arena, valued at £32.94.

Mrs Cliff said a youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, later tipped off the police about where some of the goods could be found. However, she said not all of the items could be traced.

Melville was also accused of failing to surrender to bail on four occasions between December and April.

Anne Brain, defending, asked for pre-sentence reports to be prepared about the deception charges.

She said her client - who is due to give birth in a fortnight's time - had been ill and had sick notes that might cover some of the dates in question.

Magistrates bailed Melville, of Nightingale House in Stanley Road, Worcester, to appear at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, July 20 and asked for reports to be drawn up.