Woman hauled before court charged with theft after pocketing a £20 note she found in a shop
Nicole Bailey landed herself in court after CCTV cameras caught her picking up the note another lady had dropped
A SHOPPER has been hauled into court and prosecuted for theft after she found a £20 note and pocketed it.
Nicole Bailey, 23, thought it was a case of “finders keepers” when she spotted the note lying in a store freezer cabinet.
But it had been dropped by a wheelchair-bound customer — who alerted staff when he discovered his cash was gone.
They checked CCTV and found film of Bailey picking up the money.
Police were called and the HR worker, who lives near the shop in Blurton, Stoke, voluntarily attended an interview.
She initially denied taking the £20 but admitted it when shown the film.
Bailey, who has no previous convictions, admitted theft.
Her lawyer Simon Dykes told North Staffs magistrates: “She didn’t know who the money belonged to.
“People don’t realise that picking up something you have found amounts to a theft. She has been quite naive in doing so.”
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Mr Dykes said police should have simply cautioned Bailey.
Magistrates gave her a six-month conditional discharge. It means she will not be punished if she stays out of trouble for six months.
She must also pay £175 legal costs.
Chief Inspector Karen Stevenson said afterwards: “We’d actively encourage any member of the public who picks up money that’s been dropped to be honest.
“Do the right thing by taking all reasonable steps to try to find the owner.”
Hand in windfall, says law
THE law states that someone who spots money must take “reasonable steps” to trace the rightful owner or face prosecution.
If the cash is handed in to police, in most cases the finder can have it if the original owner has not claimed it within 28 days.
However, in 2013 builder Steven Fletcher lost out on £18,000 he discovered in a burnt-out flat.
A judge ruled it probably came from criminal activity and confiscated it.
But, also in 2013, a York church was allowed to keep £100,000 found in a binbag on a doorstep.