Mother admits theft of pensioner's money from shop counter

Kirsty Jones was captured by a security camera picking up the wallet belonging to an 84-year-old, after she left it behind.

The wallet contained £190.

Jones, aged 29, was arrested after images from the incident were circulated by West Midlands Police in a media appeal to identify the culprit.

The victim Sheila Taylor had visited Dillons newsagents, in Stephenson Square, in Walsall,to collect her weekly pension on March 3, but the theft was not reported to officers until the following month.

At Walsall Magistrates Court yesterday Jones pleaded guilty to one count of theft.

Mrs Rachel Smith, prosecuting, said the premises also operates as Beechdale Post Office and Miss Taylor had gone in to collect her money.

"She unfortunately left her money wallet which contained £190 which she had just withdrawn on the counter.

"Not long afterwards Jones came into the shop with two children with her, one was in a pushchair. She picked up the money wallet and placed it on top of the pushchair before leaving the site," Mrs Smith said.

Staff phoned the police and a neighbour was able to identify Jones, formerly of Newton Place, in Beechdale, from the images.

Mrs Smith said Jones went to Bloxwich Police Station as a result of the media appeal where she was arrested.

She told the court the defendant at first denied stealing the money during the incident on March 3 and claimed she found the wallet near the till, but had handed it to the cashier.

"She was then challenged with the CCTV footage that was shown to her," she said.

"She said she didn't intend to steal the money and felt bad about it. She said she had lied because she was scared about what would happen.

"She used the money to pay bills and threw the wallet away."

Sentencing was adjourned until Monday.