A WOMAN has been jailed for stealing an elderly woman’s handbag at a supermarket.

Bernadette Christina Whelan, 48, and of Dorset Road in Christchurch, has been sentenced to two months imprisonment.

Whelan stole the handbag belonging to a woman in her 80s at Waitrose in High Street, Hythe.

When the victim reached the checkout and went to pay for her items, she noticed her bag had been taken from her trolley.

Despite checking a she had visited previously, there was no sign of her bag or its contents.

Days later, a member of the public contacted the victim to let her know they had recovered her bag from a nearby bin.

It was discovered £20 had been stolen along with bank cards.

CCTV showed Whelan entering Waitrose on Tuesday, November 7, removing the bag from the trolley and then exiting the store.

During sentencing, the judge said there was no option but to imprison Whelan.

The seriousness of the offence was cited, as well as the age and vulnerability of the victim, and subsequent stress caused.

Whelan was sentenced was sentenced at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, March 7.

In addition to the jail sentence, Whelan must also pay £20 compensation, £154 surcharge and £100 in Crown Prosecution Service costs.