A THIEF stole a woman's handbag from Southend Library after he was threatened with eviction if he didn't pay £50 he owed the council in rent.

Lee Rance, 26, of Pantile Avenue, Southend, was jailed for three months after pleading guilty before Southend magistrates to theft, yesterday.

The court heard Rance had been at Southend Civic Centre for an appointment with a Southend Council housing officer on Wednesday.

He was told he needed to find £50 to pay off his rent arrears by the end of the day and went to the library to look for numbers of organisations which could help him.

While there, he saw the handbag lying unattended and "impulsively" took it. He snatched £50 and discarded the handbag.

District Judge Kevin Gray sentenced Rance to three months in prison.