A FAMILY feud led to Littleport couple Kevin and Alison Benstead raiding a lock-up garage and stealing more than £150 worth of furniture — and then giving it to a charity shop. Alison Benstead had fallen out with her sister Lucy Papworth over the allocat

A FAMILY feud led to Littleport couple Kevin and Alison Benstead raiding a lock-up garage and

stealing more than £150 worth of furniture - and then giving it to a charity shop.

Alison Benstead had fallen out with her sister Lucy Papworth over the allocation of her grandfather's furniture, and felt unfairly treated.

"They used a key to the garage, and took items belonging to her sister," prosecutor Emma Dmitriev told Ely magistrates on Thursday. "They took a set of chairs and a tumble drier. There is a certain amount of 'he said, she said', it was a family argument."

Kevin Benstead, 34, and Alison Benstead, 27, both of Parsons Lane, admitted stealing £159 worth of Lucy Papworth's furniture in Saffron Close at Littleport on June 23. They had previously faced a charge of burglary, but that was withdrawn.

Mrs Dmitriev said Lucy Papworth's furniture was put into a lock-up garage, and included some items from her grandfather.

Mitigating, Jacqui Baldwin said: "They have shown remorse and regret that they stooped to this level. There was a family feud, and difficulties between Alison Benstead and her sister over property belonging to their grandfather."

She said Alison Benstead saw some of her grandfather's property and "temper got the better of her".

The pair were both fined £40 with £79.50 compensation and £50 costs.