A WOMAN who made hundreds of thousands of pounds stealing designer handbags and selling them online has been ordered to pay back more than £140,000.

Anna Hindmarsh travelled around the UK for four years stealing more than 1,000 handbags by designers including Radley and Lulu Guinness using a de-tagging magnet.

The 40-year-old, of North Street, Chipping Norton, sold them on eBay to make £241,907.09, Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

Hindmarsh was convicted of five counts of theft from shops, one count of false accounting, three counts of concealing, disguising or removing criminal property and three counts of fraud by false reputation.

Appearing for a proceeds of crime hearing on Monday, Hindmarsh was ordered to pay back £143,643.90.

Hindmarsh was arrested on February 21, 2013 at John Lewis department store in Stockport on suspicion of shoplifting handbags.

She was found to be in possession of a large de-tagging magnet and when officers searched her car they found two more stolen designer handbags.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police contacted Thames Valley Police to request they search her home for any further property.

During the search, officers found information relating to eBay accounts in her name.

Further investigation into the eBay accounts revealed Hindmarsh had sold in excess of 1,000 high-value designer handbags over a four-year period.

Financial investigator Susan Weatherby said: "Crimes against retailers impact all of the community as it has the effect of making goods more expensive for everyone else. Those who benefit from crime will be criminally investigated and any assets they gain through their illegal enterprises will be taken from them."

She must pay the amount back within three months or face 15 months in prison.

Hindmarsh had previously received a two-year suspended sentence on August 6 2014.