Prostitute welcomed into Samaritan's home stole £4k

A FORMER prostitute has had her stay behind bars extended by six months after stealing more than £4,000 from a woman who tried to help her.

Drug addict Amy Garner, 22, used a stolen bank card to withdraw £4,005 from Susan Brown's business account after she was allowed to move into the good Samaritan's home, Grimsby Crown Court heard.

The victim was a member of Grace Outreach, a charity which helps young girls turn their backs on a life of crime.

Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said: "A year-and-a-half ago, Mrs Brown came into contact with Amy Garner. They met on Orwell Street where the defendant was working as a prostitute and built up a rapport and a friendship.

"She was aware the defendant had a chaotic lifestyle and was a drug user who was in danger of losing her daughter."

The court heard how Mrs Brown offered Garner one of the flats she managed, in Hainton Avenue, and that she was a good tenant and stopped going to Orwell Street.

Mr Evans added: "Such was the trust and friendship between the pair that Mrs Brown invited the defendant to spend Christmas 2012 at her house with her family. There was good progress being made.

"It was in March that things started to go wrong."

Garner was arrested for aiding and abetting the supply of heroin and crack cocaine by acting as a driver – a charge for which she is currently serving an 18-month sentence at New Hall Prison.

She told police that Mrs Brown was her mother and was bailed to her address in April.

Mr Evans added: "Mrs Brown was going away on holiday and so she removed all her jewellery, valuables and cheque books from her home. She forgot that her property development business had a bank card and pin number, which was left in a filing cabinet."

Garner, formerly of the YMCA, in Peaks Lane, stole the card and used it to withdraw cash from Tesco, in Cleethorpes, on various dates during April.

In a victim statement, Mrs Brown said: "I am totally devastated and utterly betrayed. I welcomed Amy into my home and wanted to help her get her daughter back. I cannot believe she's done this to me."

Garner admitted two counts of theft in breach of trust.

Richard Hackfath, mitigating, said: "She was in the grips of a raging heroin addiction.

"This was not pre-planned. She did not befriend Mrs Brown with the intention of stealing from her."

He added: "It is something that she is bitterly ashamed of."

Recorder Euan Duff sentenced Garner to an additional six months in prison.

He said: "Somebody who was bending over backwards to do everything she could to help this vulnerable young woman has been kicked in the teeth.

"I take the view that this was a serious offence."

He told Garner: "The world needs folk like Mrs Brown to help people like you."

Garner must also pay an £80 victim surcharge upon her release.