A thief who stole a £150,000 antique vase from Harewood House has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.
Mary Connors, 54, visited the popular Leeds tourist attraction with a man on August 18 last year. The pair were spotted on CCTV getting to Harewood House just after lunchtime and going into the public gallery.
It was while they were in there that Connors nabbed the vase.
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Prosecutor Erin Kitson-Parker told Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday: "They entered the gallery building and walked through various rooms. About 20 minutes later, she was seen on CCTV approaching a display that was cordoned off...She reaches over the rope where the public are not allowed to access and picks up the item on the display before concealing it under clothing.
"She then walks out onto the footpath, back to the car and leaves." Police enquiries were conducted and officers executed a warrant at Connors' home in Pelham Lane, Halifax, on September 29.
The vase - valued by Harewood House and a curator as being worth between £100,000 and £150,000 - was found on a windowsill in a bedroom.
The court heard Connors has previous convictions on her record including 32 previous offences for theft. Her last theft conviction was in 2016, it was said.
Mitigating, Leila Taleb, said Connors was going through psychological difficulty at the time and did not know the worth of the vase. She said: "It is accepted by both psychiatrists that she was in psychological difficulty at the time and was not taking her medication...It is clear there is a historical cycle where she had taken medication, then disengaged and decided not to take them because she wasn't happy with the effects but one positive thing is she has started to engage now and has started to take that medication."
Ms Taleb said Connors had been "somewhat let down by the system" and "it is clear from her care plan she will continue to receive support."
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The court heard there was "no attempt" to sell the vase on and Connors accepted theft at the earlier opportunity. Ms Taleb said: "As soon as she was charged she said 'I took the vase but didn't know that was the value.'"
It was said Connors had been in care from a young age and was from a travelling background. Ms Taleb said she was homeless at the time of the offence and is now working with a charity helping to support the travelling community.
Recorder Palmer handed Connors a 16-month sentence suspended for two years and told her she must undertake 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He also made her the subject of a mental health treatment requirement.
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