Nicola Williams, 33, of Albert Grove, Ruabon, was jailed for stealing the case between Wrexham and Ruabon
An 82-year-old woman lost irreplaceable jewellery and her medication when her suitcase was stolen during a train journey by a pregnant mum-of-two.
The victim was on a Chester to Birmingham train but, when she arrived, she realised her case was gone.
Nicola Williams, 33, who got on the train at Wrexham and got off at Ruabon, had stolen it, a court heard today.
Williams, of Albert Grove in Ruabon, admitted theft and was jailed for 20 weeks.
District Judge Gwyn Jones said that, when the defendant first took the case, she would not have known who it belonged to.
But it would have been quite clear when she opened it that it was owned by an elderly person, he said.
It contained her medication, her clothing and sentimental jewellery including irreplaceable rings.
She had the opportunity at that stage to do the right thing and ensure it was returned, but instead she sold some of the items in a pawn shop, the judge said.
The theft, he said, would have caused emotional trauma to a lady of 82 who had been happy to travel by train but who would now be extremely wary of doing so.
“Only immediate custody is justified for this mean offence,” he said.
Prosecutor Rhian Jackson told the court that some of the stolen jewellery was of great sentimental value to the victim.
Interviewed, the defendant claimed she had felt guilty the following day and had thrown the bag into some bushes.
She said that, when she went back to recover it, it had gone.
Victoria Evans, defending, said the offence occurred on the anniversary of the defendant’s father’s death.
She got through the day by taking drugs which had not been prescribed for her, and had very little recollection of the offence, the court heard.
She was now living with her mother and helping to care for her.
Miss Evans said that the defendant had two children aged eight and six and was four months pregnant and very remorseful.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/wrexham-woman-stole-82-year-12401094
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