BUYING stolen electrical goods worth more than £1,000 for just £60 landed a woman in court.

Magistrates at Darlington heard today (Tuesday, March 25) that 26-year-old Melanie Cooper paid £60 for a stolen laptop, iPod and docking station and an XBox with games worth a combined total of £1,200.

Prosecutor Paula Sanderson said the property had been reported stolen by two victims whose homes were burgled in January and February.

Investigations led police to search Cooper’s home on Brougham Street, Darlington, where they discovered the items.

Mitigating, Stephen Andrews said Cooper bought the goods from a relative of her partner and although she thought the sale was “far from legitimate”, the offer was too tempting to turn down.

He added that there was nothing to suggest she had any involvement in the burglaries and she bought the items to use in her own home.

Cooper pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods and admitted that the offence breached a conditional discharge imposed for a previous offence.

Magistrates ordered her to pay a total of £215 in fines and court charges.