A woman burgled a friend's flat on Christmas Eve and stole her television to settle an apparent debt, a court has heard. Belinda Ley, who has more than 200 offences on her record, made a thorough search of property before taking the TV and a haul of smaller items which she carried away in a pillowcase. The 52-year-old's barrister said her client had taken a "considerable amount" of Valium on the day in question and insists while she is a "prolific" shoplifter she is not a burglar and is sorry for what she did.
Brian Simpson, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that on the morning of December 24 last year a woman living in the flats in Griffith John Street in Swansea left her home to go into town to collect medication and left her door closed but not locked. Later that morning Ley and a male entered the flat a number of times with the defendant being seen carrying off a TV and then a pillowcase full of smaller items. When the victim returned home she found drawers open and items strewn around and found the television was gone along with clothes, a pair of boots, cash, and vapes. The burglary was reported to police and Ley – who is known to local officers – was identified and arrested. She refused to leave her cell on Christmas Day so she was interviewed where she was. She remained silent throughout the questioning.
Belinda Jayne Ley, of Vincent Street, Sandfields, Swansea, admitted burglary. She has 78 previous convictions for 216 offences – 98 of which are theft and kindred matters. The offending began when she was aged 12. The court heard the man who Ley had entered the flat with had also originally been charged with burglary until the victim wrote a letter explaining she had given him permission to enter the flat to take his TV back at which point the charge was discontinued.
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Megan Jones, for Ley, said the defendant had taken a "considerable amount" of Valium on the day in question and had made the "stupid decision" to take the television and other items in lieu of money she believed the victim owed her. The barrister said while Ley was a "prolific" shoplifter she insisted she was not a burglar and she was genuinely remorseful for actions.
Judge Geraint Walters described the events of Christmas Eve in the Griffith John Street flats as "bizarre" and said it was clear the defendant had gone into her victim's home and made a thorough search looking for items of value which she could take. Referring to the defendant's extensive antecedent record the judge said he did not know if Ley was capable of changing her lifestyle but he said he accepted her remorse was genuine now she was being cared for in prison.
With a one third discount for her guilty plea Ley was sentenced to 16 months in prison. She will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
No custody photograph of the defendant is available
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