Woman receives suspended sentence for burgling friend after assault

A woman has received a suspended prison sentence after stealing £3,000 worth of clothing and jewellery from a friend, following an attack on the victim. Sarah Chilton, aged 33, committed burglary at the woman’s residence subsequent to the victim’s keys being taken during an assault, as disclosed at Newcastle Crown Court. Police apprehended Chilton, a resident of Newbiggin Hall in Newcastle, while she was attired in the victim’s coat and shoes. She pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and theft, resulting in a 14-month jail term, which was suspended for a period of one and a half years. Prosecutor David Robinson-Young stated that Chilton and the woman had maintained a friendship for approximately one week prior to their joint outing for a night. The court was informed that following several alcoholic beverages, the woman suffered a violent assault by an acquaintance of Chilton’s, during which incident her keys were lost. On the subsequent day, the woman returned to her dwelling accompanied by police officers, where they encountered Chilton and a male individual departing her flat. Mr Robinson-Young reported that goods valued at approximately £3,000 had been stolen, including jewellery possessing significant sentimental worth. The court was told that a substantial number of these items were subsequently discovered in Chilton’s bedroom. During mitigation, Kate Barnes conveyed that Chilton acknowledged her “appalling” conduct towards her friend and had a background of alcohol and drug misuse, originating from a challenging upbringing. Judge Tim Gittins remarked that while burgling a residence was inherently serious, Chilton’s act was rendered “worse” by the fact that she had targeted an acquaintance. He further noted that Chilton displayed “the gall” to wear her friend’s pilfered clothing directly after committing the theft. Nevertheless, the judge observed that Chilton had demonstrated remorse, and the probation service had proposed a structured program of activities designed to “break the cycle” of her criminal behavior, which, in the long run, would prove more beneficial to the public than immediate incarceration. Judge Gittins specified that alcohol and mental health treatment would form a component of her sentence.