Newport Crown and Magistrates Court:

Woman who stole purse during Joe Ellis fundraiser sentenced

Anyone who frequents Facebook will know the name Linda Bassett from her involvement in community support and fundraising.

Back in the summer, during the LudFest fundraising event for the Joe Ellis Trust at The King Lud in Ryde, Linda had her purse stolen. She lost not only around £50 in cash, but also her birth certificate, driving licence and several bank cards.

Linda immediately reported the theft to the police and persisted in ensuring the case was followed up, expressing her outrage not only at the theft, but also it taking place at an event trying to raise money for a terminally-ill Island teenager.

Woman sentenced
Earlier this week, 38 year old Amanda Lambert was sentenced in the Isle of Wight Magistrates court. She admitted stealing the purse whilst Linda was selling raffle tickets, but Oscar Vincent, who was defending, said she’d been drunk at the time.

Amanda Lambert was caught on the pub’s CCTV stealing the purse and later caught on CCTV outside a bank on Union Street.

Compensation and probation
Linda says when she added up the loss of cash along with the cost of having to replace her passport, driving licence etc it came to over £150, but the Magistrates ordered Ms Lambert to pay £105 in compensation.

She was also placed on probation for six months.