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Friday, October 26, 2007 | 08:42
 | | Angela Brown |
A SUFFOLK woman who stole from her grandmother only days after receiving a suspended prison sentence for a separate theft has escaped a jail term - partly because Britain's prisons are so overcrowded.
One MP last night called for prison ships to be used to solve the prisons crisis after the case of Angela Brown, who stole hundreds of pounds from her grandmother's bank account. She was in breach of a suspended prison sentence imposed in August for stealing £500 from a Christmas club fund.
When Brown, 26, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court, yesterday she was told she was “extremely lucky” as she was being given a last chance to change her ways.
Recorder Martyn Levett told the court: “It seems she doesn't understand or empathise with victims of crime and that's going to continue if she goes to prison for whatever term.
“It's one of those cases where because of the overpopulated prison population and because of the necessary short sentences a judge would have to pass in light of the type of offence… that perhaps more good might be achieved by flexing muscles with regards to a suspended sentence, making it more severe and making her undertake more unpaid work as a last chance.”
The recorder extended Brown's initial jail sentence to 12 months, suspended for two years, and increased her unpaid work order to 300 hours, which has to be completed in the next 24 months.
She was also made subject of a supervision order for a period of two years.
But Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley, Shadow Minister for Police Reform, said the sentence made “a mockery of justice”.
“To say that prisons are full is no comfort to the victims of heartbreaking crimes like this,” he said.
“We need the rapid commissioning of basic prison places including prison ships harboured in the North Sea if necessary so that judges do not bleat that the prisons are full and criminals have to be let off lightly as seems to be the case here.”
A spokesman for the Howard League for Penal Reform said the prison population in England and Wales reached an all-time high of 81,533 last week - 20,000 more than 10 years ago.
“There are a lot of people who do not need to be in prison who could be dealt with by community sentences. If that was the case, there would be spaces free for someone like this where they have actually breached a suspended sentence as it is,” he said. “The judges' hands are forced because there are literally no jail cells.”
Brown, of Turin Street, Ipswich, was found guilty in August of stealing £500 from the Christmas club at Kesgrave Sports and Social Club, where she was employed as assistant manager.
She was handed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, and ordered to carry out 120 hours' of unpaid work in the community.
But she was back in court yesterday after admitting failing to comply with the suspended sentence, four new offences of theft - including one of taking a car tax disc - and one of attempted theft.
The court heard that within days of the original suspended sentence being made, Brown had visited her grandmother and while the 67-year-old left her alone in the house, she stole her bank card and pin number.
Russell Butcher, prosecuting, told the court three withdrawals were made by Brown of £100, £150 and £160 at an ATM machine during August. A later attempt was made by Brown to withdraw money, but by then the account had been blocked.
In sentencing, Mr Levett said he bore in mind the fact Brown's grandmother said she wanted her granddaughter to get the help she needed and he said a short prison sentence would not be long enough to provide her with that rehabilitation.
He also told the court Brown had denied the original theft of the Christmas club money, which meant any intervention with the Probation Service would have been difficult, but now that she had admitted her latest offences she could receive help.
Hugh Vass, defending, said his client came to court with her bag packed expecting a prison sentence and had been told there was “no outside chance” of anything else.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: “Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts.
“The Government believes that offenders who are given short custodial sentences, such as for breaching a suspended sentence order, can be more constructively dealt with in the community. Short sentences can lead to problems with employment, housing and family relations but there is insufficient time to tackle the causes of the offender's behaviour. As a result the re-offending rate following a short custodial sentence is 70 to 75%. Whereas community sentences can be just as intensive, and can combine effective punitive and rehabilitation measures, without causing the disruption that a custodial sentence will bring.”
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