Jailing thief is ‘justice done’

THIEF got what she deserved: Robert Sharp and Susan Rothwell, children of Elizabeth Sharp (91) whose 70-year-old engagement ring was stolen

A JAIL sentence for a care worker who stole from two women aged 98 and 91 woman, is a “good day’s work done”, one of victim’s children has said.

Filipino Josephine Tangonan (36), formerly of Villiers Drive, Oldham, admitted stealing three pieces of jewellery including a 70-year-old engagement ring.

Elizabeth Sharp (91) and Elsie Bond (98) both fell victims to Tangonan while she worked at Coppice Nursing Home in 2010.

Relatives became concerned when Mrs Sharp reported someone had been “messing about with her hands.”

Mrs Sharp’s children, Robert Sharp and Susan Rothwell were delighted when they heard district Judge James Prowse put the thief behind bars for a total of seven months.

Judge Prowse told the thief: “Both of your victims were extremely vulnerable, in their 90s and in a care home.

“The effect is not only on the victims but on the public’s belief in the care system and the victims’ families.

“It is a great concern to have people in a home like that — families need to know that their relatives are safe and secure.

“You must have realised these sorts of items have sentimental value — they are valuable for the memories when you reach a ripe old age.”

He blasted Tangonan — who pawned the rings for £105 in a desperate bid to raise cash for her daughter and mother in the Philippines and to pay for her yearly college fees of £1,800 — for cheapening the victim’s memories.

Tangonan, who has been in the UK since 2010 on a student visa, was sacked from the care home and also from another part-time job she held as a cleaner.

She now faces being deported back to the Philippines.

Defending, Yasin Din, who begged the judge to give her a suspended sentence, said she had shown great remorse for what she had done.

He said: “She made a very bad choice as how to raise the cash. She caused harm to many people. She married young, had a daughter at a young age but her husband left her and she struggled to make a living.

“What she did was very wrong. The only thing she can say is sorry.”

Prosecutor Gary Logan said that one of the pieces of jewellery — a £500 signet ring belonging to Ms Bond, was never recovered.

Speaking after the hearing, Mrs Rothwell said the sentence was better than she had expected and that her mother was glad to get her ring back.

She said: “I am pleased — it’s a good day’s work and she got what she deserved. I hope it does affect her visa.

“It’s never been mentioned before in court that she had a 14-year-old daughter. It was just a sob story.”

A spokesperson for the care home said: “There was a not a dry eye in the house when the rings were returned by the police, who were excellent in their work.

“On behalf of the care home, justice has been done and we have had past and current families linked to the care home wishing us well. It is time for us to move forward and carry on what we are best at, caring for people.”