Woman who tried to sell stolen rings jailed

A woman who tried to sell stolen jewellery to a Staffordshire shop after telling staff the items belonged to her dead aunt has been jailed.

Louise Hopley took the bag of jewellery to Chatwin's Jewellers in Cannock town centre, but staff were suspicious as she appeared to be over dramatic.

Mr John Peel, prosecuting at Cannock Magistrates Court yesterday, said Hopley had taken the collection of silver rings into the shop in a clear plastic bag. "She said they had been left to her by an aunt who had passed away three days ago," he said.

"The member of staff thought she was being a drama queen. Another member of staff became aware of it and remembered that morning someone had come into the shop and told them similar jewellery had been stolen."

Hopley, aged 33, of Patterdale Road, Chadsmoor, admitted handling £1,000 worth of stolen goods on July 20 this year, belonging to Louise Craddock. She also admitted theft of a £2.99 bottle of cider and breaching a conditional discharge given last year for two other thefts.

The court heard Hopley had failed to turn up to probation meetings to prepare a pre-sentence report, but magistrates declined to give her any more chances.

Chairman of the bench Mr Barry Joynes sentenced Hopley to eight weeks custody for handling the goods, a 14-day concurrent sentence for the theft, and no further sentence for breach of the conditional discharge.

In mitigation, Mr Ian Hochett said Hopley had not stolen the jewellery, had admitted the offence at the first opportunity, and had not co-operated with the probation service because of difficult personal problems.