Telford woman, 21, stole from her family to buy alcohol and cigarettes

A diamond engagement ring was among the sentimental and expensive items Stacey Findlater admitted to stealing from her nearest and dearest.

Her betrayal was discovered when her mother found receipts in her daughter's bedroom from Cash Converter shops which matched up with items that had gone missing.

But by then Findlater had taken goods worth £2,300 from her mother and £720 from her sister.

Findlater's solicitor said her benefits had been sanctioned and she had needed the money to buy day-to-day items such as "booze and cigarettes".

Findlater's eyes welled up with tears when she replied "guilty" to two charges of theft, at Telford Magistrates Court yesterday.

The 21-year-old attended court from custody and sported a distinctive hairstyle with the bottom half of her head completely shaved and the hair on top gelled into a quiff.

The court clerk asked for her address but she replied she did not have one, before her solicitor said she lived at Charlcote, Newdale.

Findlater admitted that between December 25, 2013, and March 29, 2014, she stole jewellery, DVDs, a PlayStation console and games totalling £2,300 belonging to her mother Lorraine Corrigan.

She also admitted stealing a white gold chain, a diamond engagement ring, gold rings and a ladies watch totalling £720 from her sister Catrina Beedell during the same period.

Prosecuting Miss Sara Beddow said: "Stacey lived with her mother in Brookside.

"Around Christmas time Lorraine noticed some items going missing and found receipts for Cash Converters and the like in her daughter's room.

"Stacey admitted to her that she had stolen the items.

"On March 28, her mother again found a large amount of jewellery had gone missing.

"Her mother challenged her later about this and Stacey initially denied taking the items.

"Her sister started noticing items going missing from her house where Stacey is a regular visitor and stays overnight sometimes.

"She found a large amount of her jewellery and a laptop computer missing.

"She challenged Stacey but she said didn't take the items."

When more receipts for items sold to Cash Converter companies were discovered the police were called.

"Stacey was arrested and when she was interviewed she did admit taking numerous items from her mother and her sister," said Miss Beddow.

Mr Shakeed Ahmed, defending, said: "She's 21 and this is the first time she has been arrested or spoken to by police.

"She is diagnosed with dyslexia and there have been issues with her finances.

"This lady has been stealing from her mother and her sister because this was at a time when her benefits had been sanctioned and she had no money for basic items.

"So she had been selling the items and using the money to buy booze, cigarettes and day-to-day things."

The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports and sentencing will take place at the same court on a date to be set.