Divorce drove woman to burgle husband’s house

A woman resorted to desperate measures to ensure she received enough money from her estranged husband – by burgling his house.
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Roseann Mallinson even tried to line up buyers for the stolen haul before carrying out her crime, Preston Crown Court heard.

A wallet containing his cards was found at her home which she accepted taking “just for defilement”.

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Charles Brown, prosecuting, said there came a time when Roseanne Mallinson, of Buxton Street in Morecambe, seemed to reconcile herself to divorce.

Mr Mallinson had looked after her dogs while she was away and he had lent her keys to his address which were returned after she collected the pets.

To his knowledge, she had no other keys.

On February 24, she arranged to go to his address in Barrow to discuss going through a divorce.

Things started off amicably, but then became acrimonious.

She indicated she wanted a certain financial settlement.

In subsequent texts between them, the husband indicated he didn’t have the money.

She demanded that he find the money.

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Mr Brown also told the court: “The defendant’s telephone was later examined after she had been arrested. “In addition to the text messages between the two, there had been text messages to others seeking, before the burglary, purchasers for the TV and for diving equipment which she knew were there.”

Her husband found muddy footprints in the hallway and discovered £5,000 worth of property was missing.

She made no comment in police interview.

Around £4,000 worth of the stolen property was found and returned to the victim.

Chris Evans, defending, said there had been a rather emotive break-up from a short marriage.

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“She recognises that to enter these premises to take these items was an inexcusable way of seeking to deal with an issue of outstanding finances.

“She took a very foolish decision.

“She recognises she should not have done it, but has expressed good victim empathy and understanding”.

The court also heard that a TV and some cash were not recovered.

Mr Mallinson was said to have moved into his own property in 2012.

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The judge, recorder Christopher Melton QC, described it as an unusual case and a serious offence.

He said: “It is not necessary for the court to reflect your crime in a sentence of prison, of any kind”.

Mallinson, 49, had pleaded guilty to burgling the address on Earle Street, Barrow on February 24.

She was given a community order, with twelve months supervision and forty hours unpaid work.

She was told to pay £650 compensation.