Kimberly Beardsley and Paul Jones were jailed for targeting a student on a train and stealing her luggage
A COUPLE who targeted a student on a train in a "calculated and well planned theft" - stealing her suitcase and £800 of possessions - have been jailed.
Within minutes of fleeing with the luggage at Port Talbot station they had pawned one of the victim's necklaces at a shop in the town centre.
Swansea Magistrates Court heard that 27-year-old Kimberly Beardsley - also known as Kimberly Jones - and Paul Jones, aged 43, first saw their victim as she sat on a bench at Swansea station.
They sat next to her, then followed her onto the train and watched where she sat.
The pair stood by the train's luggage rack and, as the service pulled into Port Talbot, they worked together to "shield" what they were doing from fellow passengers before grabbing the student's suitcase and making good their escape.
The court heard that less than 10 minutes later, a Pandora necklace belonging to the victim had been sold at a nearby pawn brokers.
But the pair were identified by police and traced to a property in Station Road, Port Talbot - a subsequent search uncovered most of the stolen items including clothes, shoes and an Apple phone charger with the victim's name on it.
image: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276352/binaries/Port%20Talbot%20station.jpg
Port Talbot railway stationBeardsley and Jones pleaded guilty to theft when they appeared before justices - Beardsley was sentenced to 18 weeks, Jones to 12 weeks. They were each also ordered to pay £81 compensation and £115 victim surcharge.
Speaking after the sentencing, British Transport Police constable Jason Teear described it as a "calculated and well planned theft".
He said: "Every detail was carried out efficiently and in partnership with one another.
"The very fact that Jones sold the victim's necklace within ten minutes of the theft taking place shows clarity of thought.
"I hope this case acts as a warning to anyone who considers removing someone else's property from a train with the intention of keeping it for themselves. The railway network is a CCTV-rich environment and it is simply not worth the risk: you will be identified and you will be caught."
"The very fact that Jones sold the victim's necklace within ten minutes of the theft taking place shows clarity of thought.
"I hope this case acts as a warning to anyone who considers removing someone else's property from a train with the intention of keeping it for themselves. The railway network is a CCTV-rich environment and it is simply not worth the risk: you will be identified and you will be caught."
He added: "It's always worth reminding passengers to keep their belongings nearby when travelling and, where possible, to always keep their luggage in sight."
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