A JUDGE has condemned a woman as a 'Grade A criminal' after she went on a £4,000 shopping spree using fraudulent cheques.
Sarah Rochford, of Pinewood Close, Bolton, avoided jail despite admitting being involved in a scam to obtain goods from shops using counterfeit cheque books.
The 21-year-old defendant obtained goods from Next and Top Shop in Warrington as well as shops in Rochdale, Chesterfield and Leeds.
She used three cheque books that had been stolen during a burglary.
Judge Roger Warnock told Rochford: "You were once described as a Grade A student.
"You are now a Grade A criminal. You are on marked time if you don't obey the order that I make today."
Rochford was handed a two-year community rehabilitation order and ordered to do 80 hours of community punishment work when she appeared at Bolton Crown Court on Monday.
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