The BBC's John Thorne: Police followed up an alleged encounter at the cemetery

Mary Scott, 35, and David Scott, 60, from North Shields, are alleged to have taken wreaths and floral tributes from the Garden of Remembrance at Preston Cemetery in North Shields and recycled them for new wreaths.

They deny five charges of theft.

The couple said they were only checking up on the floral skills of their competitors in the district, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Brian Forster, prosecuting, told the jury that the cemetery's caretaker had noticed a car parked near the garden on 6 April this year.

He explained she had seen a woman, who the prosecution says was the defendant, carrying a floral tribute.

"Mr Scott was in close proximity. He was seen to be walking backwards and forwards. He was keeping watch."

The defendants were challenged by the caretaker but said nothing and drove off.

The caretaker got most of their registration number and the police later visited the defendants' home where they found laurel from a tree in the Garden of Remembrance and two memorial cards.

One read "To a precious man who is now in peace" and the other stated "To Uncle Jim, goodbye and God bless".

Accounts 'varied'

The defendants were interviewed at length by police and their accounts varied, said the prosecution.

Mr Forster said the defendants accepted they had taken a laurel because it was hard to get hold of and the wreaths had been taken towards their car so they could see them properly.

This was so they could find out what their competition in North Shields was doing.

Mr Scott, in a police statement, said the memorial cards were in their house because he would rummage through a skip in the cemetery and take some home for their daughter, who stuck them in a bereavement book she kept.