THREE women stole booze and groceries worth more than £1,600 during a shoplifting expedition to a Penrith supermarket.

During hearings at Carlisle’s Rickergate court, three of the four women who were accused of stealing alcohol and food from the Penrith’s Morrisons store on December 12 last year entered guilty pleas.

The theft was admitted by Laura Benham, 34, of Padiham Road, Burnley; Charity Styles, 32, who has no fixed address; and Carol Rickwood, 53, who also did not supply a permanent address to the court.

Court papers show that the women stole booze and groceries valued at £1,638 on a single occasion.

The fourth defendant, who has yet to enter a plea, was Deborah Tomlin, 56, whose address is also not listed in court papers. District Judge John Temperley adjourned sentence for the three defendants who entered guilty pleas to the theft allegation.

They will be sentenced at Burnley Magistrates’ Court on May 20. Background reports will be prepared. At the same hearing, Tomlin is also likely to be asked for her plea.

The three defendants who pleaded were all granted bail.