Wrexham,North Wales - Drug Addict from Wrexham stole from friend to feed her habit

Published date: 15 August 2016 | 

Published by: Staff reporter
Read more articles by Staff reporterEmail reporter

A DRUG addict stole cash and a mobile phone from a disabled friend to feed her own habit.

Appearing before Wrexham Magistrates’ Court, Claire Roberts, 31, of Bersham Road, Wrexham, pleaded guilty to taking a mobile telephone and money that had been given to her by Elaine Ashley to buy groceries.

On May 26 Roberts called Mrs Ashley to tell her she was going into town and asked her if there was anything she wanted to be picked up.

Roberts then went to Mrs Ashely’s home and wrote out her shopping list as Mrs Ashley had been left unable to write following a stroke.

She then left the house with £40 for Mrs Ashley’s groceries and her mobile telephone because Roberts said she had no credit on her own phone, but failed to return with the items.

 Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, said Mrs Ashley relied on Roberts as her mother who normally helps her was unable to due to a family bereavement.

• Follow and like the Leader Live Facebook page by clicking here

She said: “She feels taken advantage of for being disabled and that normally she relies on her mother, but her uncle had just died.”

In a police interview Roberts said she had taken the money to buy drugs for Mrs Ashley, but had used it for her own addiction.

Miss Jackson told the court that this could be considered a disability hate crime which could lead to a tougher sentence.

Paul Abraham, defending, told the court there was no evidence of hostility or prejudice towards disabled people on Roberts behalf.

In a probation report the court heard Roberts had a drug addiction and had been a regular user of heroin and crack cocaine, but she was trying to deal with the problem by seeking rehabilitation.

Roberts was sentenced to a six month community order which was extended to nine months because of the fact that Mrs Ashley was disabled.

She was ordered to pay compensation of £40 for the cash taken and £15 for the value of the phone and £50 for causing alarm and distress to her victim, along with legal costs of £85 and victim surcharge of £85.

see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/165526/addict-from-wrexham-stole-from-friend-to-feed-her-habit.aspx