A WOMAN caught driving a ram raid getaway van has been electronically tagged.

Robin Lynch, prosecuting, told Bolton magistrates that an alarm at hardware suppliers Toolstation was set off at 10.40pm on February 25 and the manager received a call to say there were problems with the shutters at the unit in Lever Street, Bolton.

Police were contacted and a CCTV operator gave them a description of a van they had seen.

“They noticed a van when they were on their way there that matched that description,” said Mr Lynch.

After a short chase the white Ford Transit van was stopped by officers on Parkfield Road.

“The defendant was detained. She was the driver of that vehicle at the time,” said Mr Lynch.

Police then discovered that there had been a ram raid at Toolstation.

“A number of individuals had been seen loading items into that vehicle,” said Mr Lynch.

Vicky Strange, aged 34, of Sandhill Close, Bolton, pleaded guilty to burglary and driving whilst banned.

“It appears accepted that she wasn’t the driver at the time of the ram raid, as such, however she was the driver who drove the items away,” said Mr Lynch.

In total, tools and other goods worth £7,354 were taken by the thieves but were recovered. Damage, estimated at around £2,000, was caused to the building during the ram raid.

At the time Strange was banned from driving due to accumulating points on her licence.

Gill Kennaugh, defending, said that, if magistrates considered inposing a curfew, Strange wanted it to extend beyond April 13 as that is the anniversary of her mother's death.

"She tells me that she feels she will be at high risk at around that time," said Ms Kennaugh.

She also appealed for a driving ban to be kept a short as possible.

"She is a young lady that is hoping to get work in the long term and obviously, if she has a driving licence it will be easier for her," said Ms Kennaugh.

Strange was sentenced to a community order for two years which includes nine months of drug addiction treatment and 20 days of rehabilitation activities.

She was also electronically tagged and made subject to a 7pm to 7am curfew for 20 weeks, banned from holding a driving licence for six months and ordered to pay £240 in costs and charges.

Chairman of the Bench, Roy Davies, told her: "These are silly things you have been doing here, isn't it?

"We are minded to go along with the probation report and let's hope it gets you back on the straight and narrow."