Addict sold on expensive china stolen from Shropshire pensioner

When police acting on a tip-off searched Judith Powell’s home, near Shrewsbury, they also discovered silverware that was missing from the 90-year-old woman’s home, and 78 cannabis plants growing in the bedrooms.

The 55-year-old, of Alberbury, told the officers she carried out the crimes to pay her drug debts.

She admitted two counts of handling stolen goods and one count of production of cannabis at a previous hearing.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that the matters came to light after Powell sold on a stolen car for scrap.

Sati Ruck, prosecuting, said: “On September 23, 2017 a woman reported that her Ford Focus was stolen from a drive, in Chapel Lane, Telford, overnight. On November 14 Dean Purvis, a scrap dealer, contacted the police to say they had collected a Ford Focus and that an arrangement had been made to pay £75 for it.

“When he collected it the defendant produced a log book and said she would send it off to the DVLA herself. When he took it to his yard he noticed that a number of parts were missing from the vehicle. When he attempted to register it with the DVLA he was advised that it was stolen.

“The police were contacted and when the defendant was spoken to she said the vehicle had been brought to her address by a male whom she was not prepared to name.

“Police attended her address the following day. The property was searched and she directed officers to a number of items including expensive china and silverware that appeared to have been stolen in a dwelling burglary at Montford Bridge overnight on October 7 and 8, 2017. The victim was aged 90.”

“It seems the police were aware the defendant may have had the property at her address after a neighbour bought china and a sewing table from her the previous day. The purchaser had knowledge of the burglary and informed the victim’s family.”

Miss Ruck added: “A further search of her home found three of the four bedrooms were being used to grow cannabis and 78 plants were confiscated. She said she was addicted to heroin and cannabis and allowed her dealer to use her property to grown cannabis to pay her drug debt.”

She said Powell had previous convictions dating to 2001 and 2003 for dishonesty.

Mr Andrew Green, mitigating barrister, said: “This is an unusual case. I request that the court draws back from custody.”

He said Powell was at a low risk of re-offending and since her arrest was getting help for her drug issues.

For handling and cannabis production Powell was sentenced to an 18-month community order, 100 hours unpaid work to be completed within 12 months and 20 rehabilitation activity days.