UNDER the control of her husband, a mother-of-three helped to steal goods worth thousands of pounds from a Southampton store where he worked as a security guard, a court heard.

Donna Ahmad followed him around Marks & Spencer in WestQuay as he pointed out which goods to take, which he intended to sell in Pakistan.

The pair were arrested after an assistant spotted empty hangers and had them watched on CCTV inside the store, which they left without making an effort to pay for the items, valued at more than £4,000.

Winchester Crown Court heard that since being bailed, Ahmad’s husband had fled to Pakistan and had no intention of returning.

Ahmad, 46, of Emerson Close, Poole, admitted conspiracy to steal.

Judge Gary Burrwell QC gave her a four-month suspended sentence with a 150-hour community order.