A MOTHER-of-two has been banned from York and North Yorkshire for 12 months after stealing mobile phones while on a day trip.

Beata Malinowska, 25, appeared before York magistrates with her husband Damien Wisniewski, 24, who aided and abetted her crimes.

The couple travelled from their home in Bradford on August 4 last year and were caught with two stolen mobile phones at York Station as they attempted to leave the city, said Martin Butterworth, prosecuting. One of the victims appeared to have been a tourist.

Malinowska, of Heaton Road, Bradford, admitted two charges of theft. She was given a community order, with a 12-month exclusion order banning her from entering North Yorkshire for any reason for 12 months.

Part-time builder and decorator Wisniewski, 24, of the same address, admitted two charges of aiding and abetting her and one of failure to attend his trial. He had originally denied two charges of theft.

He was ordered to do 60 hours’ unpaid work. Both were each ordered to pay £85 costs. They were assisted in court by a Polish translator.

Mr Butterworth said the pair were caught because they raised the suspicions of store staff who called police.

For Malinowska, Andrew Craven said she did not know any English and was illiterate.

She lived an isolated life looking after the couple’s two small children and was reliant on her husband, but last summer he was on heroin and unreliable.

“So rather foolishly, she took these two mobile phones on a day trip out to York,” said Mr Craven.

For Wisniewski, John Howard said he had been unaware of what his wife had done until after the thefts. He had then “counselled” her that they should leave York immediately. He was now on methadone and dealing with his addiction.