A shop thief was caught stealing booze while she waited for her partner to appear in the dock at the magistrates' court next door.
Denise Reid decided she needed alcohol as she waited for her boyfriend's case to be called on, so popped over to a nearby Lidl.
The 46-year-old picked out a bottle of wine and cider, valued at £6.84, but was detained leaving the store, in Bedlington, without paying.
Reid was due to appear at the same court - South East Northumberland Magsitrates' Court - on Thursday to face one count of shop theft but failed to show.
Instead, the case was proved in her absence and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
James Long, prosecuting, read from a transcript of Reid's police interview after her arrest on December 2 last year.
He said: "The defendant was asked if she was responsible for the theft in Lidl, in Bedlington.
"She said "My partner was at Bedlington Magistrates' Court and was not getting his case heard until 2pm.
"I'm an alcoholic and I was starting to rattle, so I went to the Lidl and stole the alcohol"."
Reid, of Railway Terrace, Blyth, was not represented in court, so had nothing said in her defence.
District Judge Bernard Begley said: "Despite the defendant's absence, I find the matter proved."
The court heard that Reid was subject to a suspended sentence order, so a warrant without bail was issued for her arrest for her to be sentenced.
