A husband and wife who stole from churches they visited while searching for a wedding venue have avoided jail.

Jason and Zoe Hudson helped themselves to electrical equipment, greeting cards and photographs as they toured churches in north-east Norfolk planning their big day.

The crimes committed by the couple, of High Street, Stalham, were yesterday described as 'despicable' by District Judge Peter Veits as he handed them jail terms suspended for a year.

Jason Hudson, 21, admitted a charge of theft from St Mary's Church in Stalham on June 1. At an earlier hearing he asked for seven other offences to be taken into consideration.

Zoe Hudson, 18, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from the same church on June 2, and asked for eight other offences to be considered.

Jason Hudson was given an eight-week suspended sentence and 60 hours of unpaid work, while his wife received a six-week suspended term and was ordered to complete an emotional wellbeing course.

The churches the couple stole from included St John's in Waxham, St Michael's in Sutton, St Margaret's in Sea Palling and All Saints in Lessingham.

Prosecutor Lisa Britton told Norwich Magistrates' Court the couple had been looking for a venue for their wedding when they stole from the churches, but said they had been 'low value items'.

Andrew Spence, mitigating, said the couple accepted what they had done was 'wholly wrong', but their behaviour had been 'contradictory' as they had also made donations to the churches. He said the couple had not gone with the intention of stealing, and conceded the thefts 'were not sophisticated' but had not been for commercial gain.

Mr Spence added that the couple both suffered from health problems and would not cope well in prison.

The couple will also pay �170 in prosecution costs.