Sneak thief spared jail after she stole a purse containing £40 from a friend’s kitchen drawer

Leanne English, 38, of Stanhope, Oxclose, Washington, heard her crime described as “mean” by District Judge Kathryn Meek.

But she avoided being imprisoned when she appeared in the dock at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court – and was instead handed a suspended 18-week sentence.

Prosecutor Lee Poppett told the court that English visited a pal at her home with the aim of buying tobacco on Sunday, June 21.

But when Ms Lownie’s back was turned, English swiped the purse and soon after left the property.

Her victim did not immediately realise it was missing but contacted police to report the alleged theft when unable to locate her purse, Mr Poppett said.

English was arrested on Wednesday, July 1 and admitted her crime when she appeared in court on the theft charge.

Chris Wilson, defending, said English, who has a lengthy criminal record, had made attempts to stay crime free and had not troubled the courts since April 2019, when she had also committed a theft.

District Judge Meek told English she had come as close as is possible to being jailed and she would be, should she trouble the justice system over the next 12 months, the term of her suspended sentence.

She also ordered the defendant to pay Ms Lownie £100 compensation – the court heard her purse was valued at £7 – but there were no court costs or victim surcharge imposed.

English was also made subject to a 12-month restraining order to prevent her contacting Ms Lownie and to not enter The Oval.

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