GENEROUS strangers raised more than £9,000 in just 18 hours yesterday to pay court fines for a hungry woman who stole chocolate after her benefits were sanctioned.

Louisa Sewell, from Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to theft for taking a Mars bar four-pack costing 75p from a supermarket.

The 32-year-old, who claims she had not eaten in days, was ordered by Kidderminster magistrates’ court on August 8 to pay a total of £328.75 in fines and costs — 438 times the amount she shoplifted.