A shoplifter who stole Rolex watches worth around £51,000 after casing a Kendal jewellers has been spared an immediate prison sentence.
Wiktoria Bartkowiak, 24, made a number of visits to the town centre Banks Lyon store before carrying out her crime.
Carlisle Crown Court was told she had undertaken reconnaissance on June 13 by visiting the premises to see how easy it would be to snatch luxury products.
Bartkowiak returned the following day and, while an assistant’s attention was elsewhere, she snatched four Rolexes. Valued at £51,600, they were never recovered.
Bartkowiak stepping out of the store and straight into a waiting getaway car.
Later that day, she was found behind the wheel of that vehicle for which she was not insured, and initially provided police with a false name. When brought to court she admitted theft, obstructing a constable and also driving without insurance.
David Traynor, giving mitigation, said Bartkowiak had previously been at university studying architecture but left after becoming pregnant. A second child was due in March next year and the court heard how, if the defendant was jailed, her mother would have to give up work to provide childcare. She was assessed by a probation officer as having fragile mental health.
Recorder Paul Hodgkinson accepted some pressure — although not duress — had been placed on Bartkowiak, of Greater Manchester, by her now former partner.
But he described her theft as sophisticated. “You attended the Kendal area and, as the Crown puts it, and I accept, cased out the Banks Lyon jewellers,” said the judge.
But in view of her lack of previous convictions and the imminent arrival of a second child, Recorder Hodgkinson suspended a 12-month jail term for 18 months.
Bartkowiak must carry out 80 hours’ unpaid work, complete a 20-day probation service rehabilitation requirement and observe an electronically monitored night time curfew for three months.
