A teenage girl, who said “give me money and I'll stop stealing” when she was charged over the theft of a man's wallet in Dublin city-centre, has been let off with a warning today.

The 17-year-old, who is originally from Romania and came to Ireland in recent months, pleaded guilty today at the Dublin Children's Court to stealing a wallet containing bank cards and €50 in cash at South Great George's Street, on June 2 last.

Garda Cathal Feely told Judge John Lindsay that when later charged with the offence the girl replied: “You give me money and I'll stop stealing”.

Defence solicitor Niamh O'Regan described the girl's crime as opportunistic and the court heard that she had no prior criminal convictions.

The lawyer said that the girl, who lives in Dublin with her guardian, was in “dire financial circumstances” and the stolen property was returned.

The teenager intends to return to Romania in the coming weeks, the court also heard.

Judge Lindsay applied the Probation Act, sparing the girl a sentence and a criminal record and warned her that it would be unlikely that she would get this chance again if she re-offended.