Ultimate betrayal
Reporter: RICHARD HOOTON
Date published: 24 March 2010
Woman repaid couple’s kindness by stealing
A SHAW family left bewildered by money vanishing from their home installed CCTV cameras — and were shocked to catch red-handed a close friend rifling through their belongings.
Daryl and Vicky Wild say they feel betrayed after Nadia Myers repaid their kindness by sneaking into their home and stealing cash.
The 23-year-old appeared before Oldham magistrates yesterday and admitted two counts of burglary relating to her stealing £20 on February 12 and another £20 on February 15 — two incidents that were caught on the security cameras.
The family say they installed the cameras after thousands of pounds in cash and jewellery went missing.
But Myers, of Shawfold, Shaw, denied taking anything else and police did not have any more evidence.
Prosecutor Jackie Stott said money had been going missing for a number of years so the family installed CCTV and on two occasions this filmed Myers going into Middle Fullwood Farm while the family were on holiday and stealing £40.
Myers admitted having access to a key and security code and that she had taken the money.
Magistrates said it was a serious case of breach of trust and they were considering a medium-penalty community service punishment.
But in an unusual twist, the prosecutor recalled the case to give more evidence after the victims made representations to her to clarify matters.
They stressed they had never given Myers permission to enter the house as had been indicated.
They also said that their eight-year-old daughter had been left devastated by the betrayal and in need of counselling as she had been close to Myers and saw her as an older sister.
They also indicated they did not want a potential £40 in compensation as they viewed it as an insult as the breach of trust was so great.
Magistrates changed their assessment to a high community sentence and imposed 200 hours of unpaid work, a two-month curfew of 9pm to 7am daily and a payment of £85 court costs.
After the hearing, Mrs Wild told the Evening Chronicle they had been close to Myers’ family, had attended her christening, allowed her to keep her horse on their farm rent-free, had taken her on holidays and often invited her to tea.
She was shocked to see her on CCTV rooting through every bedroom and cupboard.
She said: “She was like a member of our family and she has come in and stolen money.
“I don’t think the result would have been the same if we had not made our feelings known and got a chance to speak to the prosecutor.”
Mr Wild said: “It’s beyond having a huge impact on us. You find it hard to trust people after someone so close has done something like that. It knocks you for six.”
Emma Savage, defending, said Myers was of previous good character and had accepted she had done wrong but did not know why she had done it.
She had lost her job at Supertune Automotive and was undergoing counselling to resolve issues she may have that could explain why she committed the offences.
She added: “She deeply regrets it, it has affected her life so much, and she is very sorry for her actions.”
