A WOMAN carried out “a horrible offence” by stealing her grandmother’s bank card and buying goods from a local store, then withdrawing £500 from a cash machine.

Angela Gilchrist, of Herdmanflatt, Haddington, stole the card from 93-year-old Jessie Grierson from a property in the town on October 16 last year.

Gilchrist then made her way to a branch of the Co-op and paid for items worth £73.20 with the OAP’s bank card the following day.

The 46-year-old then headed to the town’s Tesco store and withdrew £500 in cash using the card.

Gilchrist pleaded guilty to three offences of stealing the card and using the card on two occasions during an appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month.

She returned to the dock on Tuesday, where Sheriff Robert Fife issued her with a community-based sentence.

Sheriff Fife said: “We both know this is a horrible offence but, as a direct alternative to a custodial sentence, I will deal with the matter today by not sending you to prison.

“I would like to see you in three months’ time to see how you’re getting on and to keep an eye on you. If it’s going well and there is a positive report, that will be the only review.

“If it’s not positive, there will be more reviews, but I am warning you that if you don’t comply with the order, I will simply send you to prison.”

Gilchrist was placed under the supervision of the local social work department for 24 months and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work in the community.

She was also handed a compensation order where she has to pay her grandmother £573.20.