Miss Bingo Thief Escapes Jail
8th April, 2008
The verdict was finalized yesterday for Diane Jones, 48, who stole money from her dead bingo partner’s account.
Jones, from Pentrych, Cardiff, is going to have to give £1,570 compensation to the estate of Maureen Board instead of going to prison, after the judge in the Cardiff Crown Court said that Jones would be like “a fish out of water” in jail. The woman will also have to do a three-month curfew to stay at home between the hours of 7pm and 7am. Lastly there is also a community order Jones will have to carry out.
Julian Greenwood, the prosecutor, said that Mrs Board, gave Jones her card and the pin, so that she could withdraw money for her when they were going to play bingo at the local hall. After Board died, Jones kept withdrawing money from her account.
The defendant was trying to prove that Mrs Broad loaned her £500 of the money before she passed away in autumn last year.
There were many outraged people by the situation including the recorder of Cardiff, Judge Nicholas Cooke QS. He confronted Jones harshly, saying: “You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself. This was disgraceful behaviour. You must be punished! I impose a curfew order so whereas the rest of us will be able to enjoy the relatively sunny evenings, you won’t.”
She was then told to pay £300 costs.
By Elena
