A burglar stole a nurse’s purse from inside a hospital then went shopping with her bank cards.
Shaun Clare, 32, of Plumpton Mews, Widnes, was snared after the victim contacted police at 11.40am on Tuesday to report the item stolen. Clare had pilfered the purse from a nurses’ station at Warrington Hospital.
He had then used the bank cards to make a string of fraudulent purchases on a spending spree. Officers from Cheshire Police arrested Clare and charged him with non-dwelling burglary and three counts of fraud by false representation.
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This was in addition to charges for unrelated incidents including breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order, two counts of theft from a shop and another non-dwelling burglary. Clare pleaded guilty to all counts at North Cheshire Magistrates’ Court in Warrington on Thursday where he was jailed for 36 weeks.
The burglar must also pay £134 in compensation and a £156 victim surcharge. Following the sentencing Police Constable Lauren Henthorn, of Widnes Proactive Policing Team, said: “The victim in this case was working to provide essential care to patients, while Clare was out on a spending spree using her hard earned money.
“Thankfully, as a result of the information she provided and the evidence gathered by the team here at Widnes, Clare is back behind bars and facing the consequences of his actions.”
