'Clean' woman's sentence let off

A woman has been let off her community service order imposed for handling a stolen mobile phone because of her obsession with cleanliness.

Llandudno magistrates' court heard that 18-year-old Emma McNicholas was worried about working in a charity shop because of second hand property.

North Wales probation service accepted she had obsessive compulsive disorder.

District judge David Webster was told there was no other work available that would not involve cleanliness issues.

Defence solicitor Chris Dawson said she had failed to pick up litter previously because of her situation. He added: "She doesn't, with the best will in the world, feel able to contemplate working in a charity shop without difficulty."

McNicholas, of Kings Road, Llandudno, was cleared of breaching the original court order after no evidence was offered by the probation service.