Woman stole £3,000 goods from friend after attack

A woman who stole £3,000 worth of clothing and jewellery from a friend after the victim had been attacked has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Sarah Chilton, 33, burgled the woman's flat after her keys were stolen from her in an assault, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Chilton, from Newbiggin Hall in Newcastle, was wearing her victim's coat and shoes when she was caught by police.

She admitted burglary and theft and was jailed for 14 months, suspended for a year and a half.

Chilton and the woman had been friends for about a week when the pair went for a night out, prosecutor David Robinson-Young said.

After a number of drinks, the woman was violently assaulted by one of Chilton's friends during the course of which she lost her keys, the court heard.

The following day, the woman returned to her home with police only to find Chilton and a man leaving her flat.

Some £3,000 worth of goods had been stolen with jewellery of great sentimental value among the items taken, Mr Robinson-Young said.

Many of the items were found in Chilton's bedroom, the court heard.

In mitigation, Kate Barnes said Chilton accepted she had behaved "appallingly" towards her friend and had a history of drink and drug abuse stemming from a difficult childhood.

Judge Tim Gittins said burgling somebody's home was bad enough but it was made "worse" that Chilton had targeted her friend.

He said Chilton even had "the gall" to wear her friend's stolen clothes immediately after stealing them.

But, the judge said, Chilton had shown remorse and the probation service had suggested a programme of activities to "break the cycle" of her offending, which in the long term would be better for the public than her immediate imprisonment.

Part of her sentence will include alcohol and mental health treatment, Judge Gittins said.

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