Last updated at 17:00, Tuesday, 29 January 2013

A WOMAN’S flat was burgled while she was away visiting her mum who had been taken ill.

A court heard that gold jewellery worth just over £500 was taken, as well as electrical items and household goods.

A 27-year-old woman involved in burgling the address on Greenhill Close, Barrow, was given a suspended sentence by a judge at Preston Crown Court.

Alison Robinson, also of Greenhill Close, was given 26 weeks jail, suspended for 18 months, with 18 months supervision, 60 hours unpaid work and a two-month curfew to run from 8pm-7am each night.

Her co-defendant and neighbour, 26-year-old Vicky Devlin, had been committed for sentence for handling stolen goods. She was given two years’ supervision and a 16 week curfew, also to run from 8pm-7am.

Mr Richard Archer, prosecuting, said in September last year the victim had left her flat on the Ormsgill estate to visit her mother who had been taken ill.

The following day she was contacted by police to say her front door had been kicked in. She could not go home at the time, but asked police and the local council for help to secure the flat.

Devlin was there when police arrived and said she had seen three men kicking the door in, trying to retrieve some drugs they believed were stored there.

Four days later, a friend told the victim some people were in her flat and they were removing items. The victim returned home to find her home in a “total mess”, with clothes and food strewn on the floor.

Gold jewellery was missing as well as other items. Some of the stolen property was found in Devlin’s flat. Robinson fully admitted the burglary to police.

Mr James Heyworth, for Robinson, told the court Robinson said Devlin, who is also known by the surname Ormandy, had been involved in the burglary.

Mr Heyworth said Robinson went along on the basis that Devlin had said to go and have a look in the property because the door was insecure.

Mr David Traynor, for Devlin, said she was someone who was easily led and not sophisticated.

First published at 16:36, Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk