A woman burgled her own dad's home and filled a bag with goods, including her mother's death certificate.
Following the death of her mother, Deborah Ritchie burgled her father's home in Farringdon, Sunderland, and filled a carrier bag with a number of items including the death and birth certificate of her mum, perfume and briefs. The 36-year-old was not welcome in the home due to "animosity" in the family.
On Tuesday, Ritchie, of Thorney Close Road, Thorney Close, Sunderland, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for burglary. She had pleaded guilty to the offence, which was committed on August 19 2021, on the day of trial.
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The court heard that months after the death of her mum, Ritchie burgled the home of her father, where her teenage son also lived. Kate Barnes, prosecuting, said: "The defendant did not live there and was not welcome due to animosity."
The court heard that Ritchie's son came home to find her in the kitchen, and he called the police. When officers arrived, she was detained close by and found clutching a carrier bag full of items. Ms Barnes added: "The bag had been taken and in it were a number of items, including a birth and death certificate, a bottle of perfume, a camera, a letter addressed to her son and a pack of briefs."
In a victim statement, Ritchie's dad said she had "caused issues for the family for years" and had "caused so much stress". He added that Ritchie's behaviour had added to her mother's ill health before her death.
The court heard Ritchie had 42 previous convictions for 76 offences, many of which were for assault and inquisitive offending.
Jennifer Coxon, defending, was not required to mitigate fully after the judge in the case said he would pass a suspended sentence.
Sentencing Ritchie, Judge Edward Bindloss said the burglary was "unusual" and said she had since been engaging in support regarding drug issues. He added she had started to reduce her methadone and handed her a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
She must complete up to 15 rehabilitation days and a five year restraining order was imposed banning her from entering her father's street.
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