Friends Nick Designer Dresses During Boozy Birthday Trip

L - Hunter R - Moore

Two Liverpool shoplifters, who targeted a pair of designer dresses worth £4,200 at the landmark Harvey Nichols department store during a birthday trip to the capital, claimed they were so drunk on wine they could not remember the high-value theft.

Rebecca Hunter, 31, of Huyton Church Road and Natalie Moore, 36, of Roby Road removed security tags from the garments in the changing rooms of the Knightsbridge store, but were already being watched by suspicious security staff who stopped them outside.

They both pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to stealing the dresses, designed by French fashion house Lanvin, on July 5 and each received a twelve-month community order, with 200 hours community service.

Prosecutor Mr. Tom Gill told the court it was 7.30pm when a store detective began watching the pair, who say they had been drinking for the previous six-and-a-half hours.

"The store detective watched Moore select three dresses and pass them to Hunter and then they both went to the dressing-rooms.

"Only one of the dresses was left on the rail and two broken security tags had been hidden behind a dressing-room mirror.

"They were stopped outside in the street and Hunter produced the two dresses from her bag and both had been damaged by the removal of the security tags."

They were arrested and quizzed after spending a night in the cells.

"Hunter said she could not remember anything because she was drunk. She said she was a binge drinker and was very sorry for what had happened," explained Mr. Gill.

"Moore said she was drunk and could not remember what had happened. She said she had drunk four bottles of wine and said she was sorry.

"She told officers she was on anti-depressants and had recently broken up with her child's father and was taking comfort in drinking."

Their lawyer Miss Cleo Rehamena told the court: "Both of them are ashamed of their behaviour. It was Miss Moore's birthday and they came to London.

"That day they were drinking very heavily from one pm, sharing four bottles of red wine between them, and have found the whole ordeal very disturbing.

"They both have previous convictions for theft and they were both playing the same role in this offence.

"After fourteen years with her partner Miss Moore found out he was having an affair and is now residing with her mother and thirteen year-old daughter.

"She has left the matrimonial home and has nothing."

District Judge James Henderson told the defendants: "There are a number of aggravating features and you could not have complained if you had been sent to prison.

"If you breach these orders the likely outcome will be prison because of the aggravating features and the high value."

Hunter and Moore were also ordered to each pay £500 compensation to Harvey Nichols.