Shrewsbury woman burgled own grandmother

Stacey Swanson, 22, wanted to "get back at" the 69-year-old for banning her from the Shropshire home they once shared after suspecting her of stealing.

Deceitful Swanson tricked the pensioner into going out by texting her pretending to be a grandson asking for an urgent meeting.

Then she used her own key to let herself in before stealing five gold rings which belonged to her great-grandmother, along with a digital camera and photo frame.

But she was spared jail, instead being told by a judge she needed to tackle her drugs habit.

Swanson and on-off boyfriend Wesley Pallen-Williams, 27, sold the stolen haul at Cash Brokers on Castle Street, Shrewsbury for just £100, which they spent on drugs, paying off debts and food.

The pair appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court for sentencing after Swanson, of Spring Gardens, Shrewsbury, admitted burglary and fraud. Pallen-Williams, of North Street, Shrewsbury, admitted fraud and handling stolen goods.

Judge Recorder Adrienne Lucking QC told Swanson it was in the public interest to get her off drugs rather than behind bars. She received eight months in prison for burglary suspended for two years and three months for fraud to run concurrently. She was also handed a curfew, drugs rehabilitation order and a 12 months supervision order.

Her partner in crime, who had a history of 22 offences from18 court appearances, was jailed as he had breached an earlier suspended sentence for assault.

Pallen-Williams was sentenced to eight months for handling, two months for the breach to run consecutively and three months for fraud, to run concurrently.

Prosecuting, Mr Robert Edwards said Swanson's grandmother Angela left the home empty in April when she received the text message.

He added: "When she returned to the property she saw that the sideboard drawer was open. A digital camera and photo frame with a combined value of £150 were no longer there.

"She went into her bedroom and found her jewellery box unlocked. She saw a number of rings had been stolen. All of these rings were from her mother and had sentimental value to her."

When Swanson was arrested at her home in North Street, Shrewsbury police found that her mobile number was the same one her grandmother had received messages from.

Mr Edwards added: "Stacey Swanson made full admissions and said she decided to burgle her grandmother because she wanted to get back at her. The pair spent the money on drugs, paying off debts and food."

Mrs Debra White, defending Swanson said: "There is no justification for what she did. She is disgusted by her own behaviour and she is remorseful. When this offence took place she was addicted to heroin and had been for 12 months."