Career criminal from Gateshead befriended a one-legged man before stealing his bank cards
A career criminal who befriended a one-legged man before stealing his bank cards to buy pizza has been given a tongue lashing by a furious judge who told her to "stop snivelling".
Laura Elliott, of Pensher Street, Gateshead, had been pals with her victim for around five months and regularly attended his flat, in Felling, to borrow his phone and money.
On the afternoon of March 22 amputee Wojciech Kadzinski heard a noise coming from his kitchen but by the time he had got to his wheelchair from the sofa and into the kitchen, there was nobody there.
A number of items had gone, including two Barclays Bank cards. He reported the theft two days later to find £194 had been spent in Felling, including at a pizza take away and Iceland.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Elliott, 29, was arrested on April 10 after police identified her from CCTV images, and she pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.
Elliott already has 14 convictions for 26 offences including nine of similar thefts and others including battery, shop lifting, racially aggravated harassment, assault of an emergency worker and possession of class A drugs.
At the time of her arrest she was subject to two community orders.
The court heard claims she had brain surgery in 2022 which had resulted in a fresh wound to her head after falling during an apparent seizure before attending court.
But Her Honour Judge Amanda Rippon was furious at the manner Elliott had treated a probation officer, saying: "I've had displeasure of reading the pre-sentence report and I can't say I've ever read anything like it before.
"I've read lots of things in pre-sentence reports but rarely have I seen such levels of rudeness to a probation officer, who described a lack of interest in the chance she was given and a lack of co-operatiom that orders on extraordinary."
As her defence solicitor Rachel Hedworth mitigated, Judge Rippon intervened: "She's not doing herself any favours with the faces she’s pulling behind you.
"There are no faces you can pull that will illicit any sympathy from me, not one.
"You and I both know that she has persuaded on each occasion (in court) that she should be given a chance to work with probation service because of her background. It isn't going to work today.
"It is the most disrespectful and discourteous pre-sentence report I've ever read.
"She's 29 now and has to, at some point, take responsibility.
"If she thinks that telling you something is true and you do to me she's wrong.
"If I haven't managed to make that woman understand what a serious position she is in then nobody ever will."
Judge Rippon said she would give Elliott a chance to retrieve medical evidence with regard to her brain surgery, which she claims has impacted her behaviour, adding that she must attend any further probation or mental health-related appointments made for her.
She added: "If she doesn't go to the next appointment you arrange for her or provide you with medical evidence for her illness then she'll go to prison."
Addressing Elliott, Judge Rippon said: "Stop snivelling, you're 29-years-old.
"I accept there's a lot in your background. I have no idea if you've been as ill as you say.
"You probably have but I'm not going to accept the assertion because you're a criminal and you have been for a long time.
"You are an absolute blight on the people you meet and that will not change until you do.
"I came here today to give you a prison sentence. I am giving you, literally, your last chance."
A new sentencing hearing was set for January 30 at 10am, at Newcastle Crown Court, and Elliott was released on bail.