An elderly woman’s handbag was stolen from right under her nose while she was shopping.

The victim, aged in her 80s, was shopping at the Waitrose store on the high street in Hythe.

As she reached the checkout and went to pay for her items, she suddenly noticed her bag had been taken from her trolley.

After checking a previous shop she visited, there was no sign of her bag or its contents.

A few days later a member of the public contacted the victim to tell her they had found her bag in a nearby bin.

It was discovered that bank cards and £20 had been stolen.

A woman will now spend two month behind bars for the crime.

READ MORE: Pub ransacked by teen thieves - but this is why landlord did not call police

Bernadette Christina Whelan, of Dorset Road in Christchurch, was found guilty of stealing the handbag.

She was handed her prison sentence at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on March 7.

CCTV showed Whelan entering Waitrose, removing the bag from the trolley ,and then exiting the store.

During the sentencing, the judge made clear that there was no option but to imprison Whelan.

The seriousness of the offence was cited, as well as the age and vulnerability of the victim, and subsequent stress caused.

Whelan must also pay £20 compensation, £154 surcharge and £100 in Crown Prosecution Service costs.