A THIEF who stole and burnt a woman's handbag before giving her cash to his friend was ordered to pay £270 compensation and £80 costs by Trowbridge magistrates last Thursday, March 14.

Matthew Chilcott, 28, of Hurricane Road, Bowerhill, admitted stealing a handbag and its contents while his friend Christopher Bishop, 28, of Spa Road, Melksham, admitted handling and receiving stolen goods.

Prosecutor Michelle Hewitt told the court how the victim's handbag had been stolen on March 1 after she went to visit a friend and stayed the night at her home.

Magistrates heard how the pair had been out in Melksham, and rather than walk home decided to visit the victim's friend, whom Chilcott knew, and ask for a lift.

The mutual friend agreed to give them a lift and the prosecutor told the court that it was while the men were in the hall that Chilcott saw the bag and stole it.

The pair's defence solicitor, Muriel Wrench, said Chilcott stole the bag when he saw it lying in the back seat of the friend's car.

She said he took £50 from her wallet, giving £20 to Bishop.

Magistrates were told how the victim realised her bag was missing when she woke up and told her friend.

Realising what had happened, the friend visited Chilcott and found him burning the bag.

Mrs Wrench said: "Both men regret what they have done and they had not intended to take the bag."

Bishop, who was in breach of an earlier conditional discharge for being drunk and disorderly, was sentenced to serve another conditional discharge for 12months.