A woman has admitted stealing a French bulldog and selling it on for £600.

Harriet Webb, of Vaux Crescent, Hersham, took the dog, Maggie, from owner Denise Read, because her two dogs could not get on.

Ms Read was going to have Maggie spayed, but she had just had a litter of puppies and that had to be delayed, so she sought someone online who could take Maggie until she could be spayed and then returned.

The woman she found, known online as "Sandy", transpired to be Harriet Webb, 54.

In April, Webb asked if she could keep Maggie and Ms Read said if Maggie returned home and things were still difficult they could discuss a permanent move, Staines Magistrates' Court heard on Monday.

At about this time, Ms Read started having trouble contacting Webb. Eventually, she received a call from Webb's husband to say she has left him, moved to Wales and taken the dog. He told Ms Read he would get her back.

Webb's husband called again in a few days and said he could not get hold of her.

On about April 10, when Ms Read last spoke to Webb, an internet advert was posted by a Sandy offering a French bulldog for sale, and was picked up by a man looking to buy a dog for his family. He paid £600 and collected Maggie from Webb's Hersham home.

Not long after, police arrived at his home to collect the dog and explained she had been stolen.

Prosecuting, Craig Warsarna said: "This is an offence that's had an element of sophistication and planning.

"The sale of that same dog while still in contact with the owner confirming that she would simply foster the animal."

He spoke of the emotional distress caused to both Ms Read and the family who purchased Maggie and said: "We all know how dearly people cherish their animals."

Mr Warsarna said in a report, Webb said Maggie bit her 10-year-old son so she had to sell her. He said: "She said she tried to contact the owner, we know that to be lies."

Anthony Eskander, defending Webb, told the court she was of previous good character and this was her first time appearing in court.

The sentencing has been adjourned until June 3, for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.