£17k jewellery thief was in drugs debt

A husband who stole more than £17,000 worth of goods from jewellers across the north of England has been jailed for 18 months.

Nicholas Foley (34) stole the jewellery with his wife to pay off a drug debt to members of the travelling community.

Tanya Foley (29) would enter the stores with her young son and distract shop assistants claiming to be looking for a present for her mother, while Foley would reach over the counter taking watches and rings.

The pair were caught in the H Samuel store in Oldham town centre last summer after a nationwide alert was put out to shop managers in the chain to look out for the pair.

Both defendents, of Morton Close, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft, saying they were forced to take the items to pay off an increasing drug debt.

Sharon Amesu, prosecuting, said, “A spate of thefts added up to substantial amounts of jewellery from various shopping centres across Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester.

“The total value is some £17,000. The items were very expensive. Among other items, the defendants stole a watch to the value of £3,340, a Sapphire ring worth £650 and another two watches each valued at £2,775.

“It would appear that Mrs Foley would act to distract the shop workers. She would approach the shop assistants indicating that she was looking for a piece of jewellery or a watch for her mother.

“She would request that the shop assistant would take out a certain item of jewellery towards the back of the shop. Nicholas Foley would reach over the glass panelling and take an item of jewellery.

“On several occasions, the shop assistants themselves did not realise the item was missing until a stock check had taken place.

“But at Oldham’s H Samuel, the store supervisor was somewhat suspicious and contacted the police.”

Laura Marshall, defending, said: “In 2004, Mr Foley managed to free himself of the drug addiction. He found full-time employment.

“But early last year, things took a turn for the worse. He was made redundant and went back to his previous addiction.

“Very quickly, he ran up a significant debt.”

Clodagh Maguire, defending Tanya Foley, said: “Mrs Foley knows exactly how serious this is, and the distraction technique that was used.”

Nicholas Foley was jailed for 18 months. Tanya Foley was handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years with a supervision requirement, and ordered to complete a drug rehabilitation programme.