She told me she had made me a cup of tea, like she had done me a favour, but she had just stolen from me. She said: 'That day she acted like nothing had happened.
Ms Wood said she set up the camera after she noticed money from her savings jar and from her nine-year-old son's piggy bank had gone missing. He told the court his decision was not an indication of his final decision, but did not speak directly to Collier - who was crying uncontrollably as she was sent down. If I deal with her now she would go straight to custody where she can go now.'Ĭollier (left, with her best friend Ms Wood) and right, has now been jailed for two nights 'I'll remand her until 10.15am on Thursday morning. I'll deal with your client at 10.15am on Thursday. I want to think more about your clients' case. Speaking directly to Mr Savage, the judge said: 'Courts are required to follow the guidelines. In an unusual move, he then sent her to prison for two nights, to allow himself time to consider her case. Having read to himself a letter from Collier, addressed to him, Judge Paul Watson QC said he had no doubt her remorse is 'genuine and heartfelt', but pointed out it is 'all very well and good after the offence'. The court heard that the starting point for sentencing is three years in prison, with a range of between two and six years, for one offence. 'There is clearly a background history of problems between herself and her mother and she was trying to keep up with her mother in spending money she did not have and that caused this.' She is then filmed on the secret camera rifling through her purse and stuffing money in her bra Previously, footage from a hidden camera at Samantha Wood's house showed the moment Collier, her friend of 14 years, nabbed money from her handbag and stuffed it in her bra. He has since died without an apology and before her conviction. Hull Crown Court heard it was their carers who 'came under suspicion', but the thief turned out to be their granddaughter, who they had an 'excellent' relationship with.Ĭollier's grandfather was said to be 'devastated' when he was told it was his daughter's daughter who had been stealing from them. Melissa Collier, 28, would wait until she knew her grandma, 83, was out before letting herself into their home and 'creeping' past her 92-year-old war-hero grandad who was confined to a chair after suffering a stroke.Īfter the couple noticed money was going missing, their concerns were reported to police who set up 'surveillance' inside their sheltered housing complex in Analby, Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire.
A thief has been jailed after she was caught burgling her own grandparents' home on a secret camera set up by police, having previously been caught taking money from her best friend.