A TRIO of crooked women stole nearly £25,000 worth of property from the Netherton supermarket where they worked.

Judge Martin Walsh told Sailah Akhtar, Emma Taylor and Laura Drew they had avoided going behind bars by the "skin of their teeth."

Paul Spratt, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court the women were employed at Asda in Saltwells Road and they took products through the check-out system without swiping each individual item.

He added they each took away weekly loads of shopping while also stealing over £5,000 worth of scratch cards.

Mr Spratt described 26-year-old Akhtar of Churchfield Street, Dudley, as the "prime mover" in the group with all three being dismissed when their offending came to light.

Akhtar admitted theft by an employee after being accused of taking £18,111 worth of items from the supermarket between June last year and June this year.

She was given a 12 week jail term suspended for two years and further ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work in the community.

Taylor, 34, of Pointon Close, Bilston, pleaded guilty to stealing £3,629 worth of items from the supermarket, she was given a 36 week jail sentence suspended for two years with 180 hours unpaid work.

Drew, 23, of Havergal Walk, Colley Gate, also admitted stealing £2,727 worth of goods belonging to Asda and she was given man 18 month jail sentence suspended for 18 months with 140 hours unpaid work.

The judge told them it was serious offending that merited immediate custody but he added: "Each of you have escaped custody by the skin of your teeth."