Runaway thief quickly caught

Charity box theft "the most miserable of crimes"
THE theft of a charity box was described as "the most
miserable of crimes" by a Wick sheriff today.
Sheriff Andrew Berry ordered mean thief, Julie Woods to put something back
into the community by carrying out 54 hours of unpaid work.
The 20-year-old took to her heels after grabbing the collecting box, in aid of the
British Heart Foundation, from the counter of a fish shop in Lower Dunbar
Street, Wick, on May 8.
The town’s sheriff court was told that the shop owner
witnessed the blatant theft and alerted his son. Both gave chase
and quickly caught up with Woods and the collection box containing cash in
coins. She admitted the theft and a previous, unrelated conviction.
Her solicitor, Rory Gowans said that the accused had been experimenting with alcohol and
and valium on the day in question and her recollection of the ‘nasty’ theft was “very
poor”.
Sheriff Berry told Woods, of 5 Owen Place, Wick: “This is as
miserable as an offence gets. People who are no doubt hard pressed
financially, these days, give money to a charity only for you to attempt to
deprive the intended beneficiaries of the donations. It seems to
me that as you took funds donated by the public you should give something
back, in unpaid work.”
Wood's partner Johnny Gardner, 22, of the same address,
will also have to carry out unpaid work, for 81 hours, after he admitted causing a disturbance on
the same day, outside a house in Macrae Street, Wick.
Gardner who had called to 'scrounge' a cigarette, shouted
and swore after the householder refused to open the door.