New mum was getaway driver for partner in string of raids across Lincolnshire
A COUPLE stole presents and jewellery valued at more than £15,000 just weeks after the birth of their son.
James Parker, 24, recruited his girlfriend Charlotte Hall, 21, to act as a getaway driver in a month-long crime spree, targeting dozens of homes across Lincolnshire.
Hall, who had no previous convictions, embarked on their first burglary just a month after giving birth to the couple's first child, and was spared jail after she was described as a "stupid girl" blinded by love.
Lincoln Crown Court heard how the couple, of Market Rasen, were responsible for nearly 30 burglaries and attempted break-ins carried out over the Christmas period in 2012.
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Among the items stolen were a 100-year-old family bracelet, a set of £1,200 pearls bought as a Christmas present, a laptop containing sensitive personal information and a watch given to a victim by his mother.
Their victims included a elderly couple in poor health who were away visiting relatives for Christmas and a woman who now felt unsafe in her home of over four decades.
The court was told many of the burglaries occurred in the Lincoln area after Hall gave Parker a lift in her Fiat Punto, but other break-ins were carried out closer to Market Rasen.
Much of the stolen property was recovered when police raided the couple's home in King Street, two days after Christmas.
The court heard Parker had a string of previous convictions for dishonesty and was jailed for four years in 2009.
Sunil Khanna, mitigating for Hall, said: "She chose to ignore things that were said about him.
"She got pregnant, they got a property together but unfortunately he was made redundant from his job cleaning farm machinery on October 24. Their son was born on October 31.
"In her words, he wore her down and he persuaded her if she remained in the car and did not go in to the property or on to the land then she had done nothing wrong. She accepts she was naive."
Hall admitted five charges of burglary in December last year and asked for 21 other offences to be taken in to consideration. Parker pleaded guilty to the same five break-ins and asked for a further 23 offences to be taken in to consideration.
Sentencing her to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, Judge Sean Morris said: "It is clear to me you are a stupid girl who fell for a man who got you in to crime. I don't mean to be impolite, love blinds may be a better way of putting it."
She was also made the subject of a six-month nightly curfew and placed under probation supervision for 18 months.
Mark Watson, mitigating for Parker, said he accepted being the "driving force" behind the break-ins.
Jailing him for 28 months, Judge Morris added: "It was the season of goodwill to all – you broke some hearts."
14 Comments
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by davendogs
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 6:01PM
“We should get that Sheffield judge here on a permanent basis. I hope he is into putting some O/T in, there's plenty of scope for that.”
by Keith_in_Gy
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 5:10PM
“Wouldn't have bothered her xxx666xxx, the toys she had would have been stolen anyway. And if she'd had them stolen she'd have just gone out and stolen some more. Methinks we'll be seeing more of this unsavoury character in the very near future!”
by williewonky
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 5:06PM
“Judge Moore needs to sort this one out.
Jail her, take her child off her and give it to a family who cannot have kids but desperately want one.
Acid vat for these morons.”
by xxx666xxx
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 3:53PM
“What a stupid girl. I wonder how she would feel if someone burgled her house and stole all her babys xmas toys. Karma will get the stupid b***h”
by mistletoe50
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 3:42PM
“While they were doing the robberies who was looking after the baby ???????”
by delboy1900
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 2:28PM
“This is a disgrace! Blinded by love after one occasion is one occasion maybe (Still one occasion too many for me) but she had chance to reflect upon that and regulate her behaviour. Blinded by love in a further 29 burglaries is unforgivable. She obviously saw the benefits of her boyfriends masterplan! The scum the both of them. How can someone yesterday go to prison for 8 months for lying about speeding points and then today we hear about someone who has contributed to tearing the lives apart of 30 households not meet at least the same justice and for me arguably more!! I hate our justice system, it stinks! The politician yesterday should have been punished but he is not a danger to society (unless he gets into power)... This individual here has the capacity to dishonestly take people's possessions again and again and again! & Furthermore... The sentence he has received is again a disgrace! He should have received a minimum 5 years!”
by WhistlingD
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 11:30AM
“If she was "blinded" by love...should she really have been driving!”
by gy82a
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 10:30AM
“dos'nt matter if shes got more kids than doctor barnardos, she should of done time she is alledgedly a adult and should be punished as such, if the people working hard for meagre pay fail to pay their council tax, banged up no questions asked . The legal profession are way out of touch with reality...”
by GyMonkey
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 10:30AM
“Get used to news like this the country is done ! its falling apart and after the end of this month things are going to get much much worse..... this is nothing when compared to what im predicting..... life is going to get very GRIM indeed, violence theft burglary will all rise and police officers will continue to dwindle..... no matter which side of the fence you fall THIS needs sorting OUR country needs fixing and certainly not by those in a fabricated position of power.... BUT by US ! x”
by dormantfan
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 9:37AM
“Was a new mum ever at any risk of being sent down for this? I think these 2 kids are a fair bit smarter than the judge gives them credit for!”