Homeless addict stole £4k after being invited into home

A HOMELESS drug addict from Grimsby stole more than £4,000 from a woman who tried to help her, a court heard.

Amy Garner, 22 – formerly of Grimsby's YMCA – used a snatched bank card to withdraw the cash after being invited into the home of Susan Brown, who often helped people living on the streets to try to turn their lives around.

Tony Mowbray, prosecuting, told Grimsby Magistrates' Court how Garner was invited to live in Ms Brown's home while going through a court case for aiding and abetting the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.

He said: "There was an obvious breach of trust from somebody who regarded the defendant as a friend."

Garner admitted two counts of theft between April 8 and May 35.

The court heard how she found the bank card and pin number while Ms Brown was away on holiday.

Garner, who was a heroin addict at the time, admitted stealing a £10 Marks & Spencer gift card and £2,055 in cash between April 8 and April 23.

Then, between May 1 and May 23, she used the same card to withdraw a further £1,940.

Vicky Lee, mitigating, said Garner is currently serving an 18-month sentence at New Hall Prison imposed by Grimsby Crown Court on July 26 for the drugs charge.

She added: "It's not something you hear said in court very often, but my client is grateful to be in custody because she was in the throws of a heroin addiction for two-and-a-half years before that.

"She feels awful about what has happened and is very remorseful.

"She hopes to rebuild the relationship she had with the complainant when she is released."

Mrs Lee added that Garner's "chaotic, drug-fuelled lifestyle" saw her lose custody of her five-year-old daughter.

She added: "This defendant wants to serve her sentence and begin again with a clean slate and feeling positive about the future.

"If she hadn't gone into custody then she believes her lifestyle would have killed her."

Magistrates did not feel they were "best placed" to sentence the case and so Garner will be sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court on August 23.

See your Grimsby Telegraph for details.