Judge describes thief as 'magpie'

Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A THIEVING shop worker must do 120 hours community work after a judge accused her of telling “lies and bigger lies.”

Judge Michael Fowler made the comment after a four-day trial in which Yasmin Baddeley was found guilty of stealing £25 cash and items worth £192.

A jury convicted her of three thefts from Chic, a ladies’ dress and accessory shop in Ashbourne in March and April last year.

Baddeley of Sunny Bank, Mayfield was also put on probation for a year.

Derby Crown Court heard that she tried to stop CCTV from recording her activities when left alone in the shop - then accused the police and owner of planting goods to incriminate her.

The judge told her:”That’s a demonstration of your arrogance that you thought you were so important they would risk so much to do that.

“You are caught out being dishonest, you lie. You are caught out in your lies and you deliver bigger lies. You tell lies with no regard for the consequences for those about whom you lie. You were like a magpie going around the shop picking up pretty things.

“In reaching 40 years at the bar and on the bench, I occasionally come across people who demonstrate the sort of dishonest traits you do.”

Sarah Allen, prosecuting, had told the jury the missing items included tops, scarves and costume jewellery.

When police called at Baddeley’s home, some of the clothing was on the ironing board.

David Webster, mitigating, told the court:”She is 50 years of age and has fallen prey to criminality on this one occasion.

“You have substantial levels of premeditation, a level of sophistication and a degree of persistence. I can’t get away from that. She was emotionally at quite a low ebb during the period of this offending.

“It doesn’t make it any better for the loser and victim of the offences.”

Baddeley had shown “dedication to her daughter and granddaughter” and had suffered a bereavement at the time.

She had not been in trouble before and had a “positive good character,” said Mr Webster.

Because of Baddeley’s financial position, the judge said he was unable to order her to pay £217 compensation or the £1,416 prosecution costs.