LOWEST OF THE LOW; Charity rat walks free

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), April 7, 2008

Byline: By ROB KENNEDY

A BOGUS charity worker who conned elderly people has narrowly evaded jail.

Former nurse Lynn Chambers pretended to be collecting for the Red Cross and targeted old folk.

She used a Red Cross collection box which she had stolen to pose a volunteer.

Now she has been given a community order and warned she will be jailed for at least 18 months should she commit any further offences.

Judge Guy Whitburn said: "What you did was mean, underhand and thoroughly dishonest.

"If you commit any further offences and come back before me, I will sentence you to at least 18 months and perhaps as long as two years."

The former auxiliary nurse had befriended an 84-year-old woman in Lanchester and tricked her into inviting her back to her home. Once there, she stole pounds 100 when the war hero's back was turned.

Chambers then tricked her way into the homes of two other women, both in their 80s.

They let her in after she showed them the Red Cross box and claimed she was a Polish volunteer.

The old ladies had both given her cups of coffee before she stole items from their handbags. Among the property stolen was a ballpoint pen which had been given as a present and was of great sentimental value.

Det Sgt Paul D'eath said: "As crimes go this was just about the lowest of the low.

"Chambers tried to pass herself off as a genuine charity worker to prey on a vulnerable and elderly lady and abused the trust placed in her for her own selfish ends."

The offences all took place between January 6 and 9 this year and came to light when Chambers used cheques stolen from one of her victims to get pounds 450 from Barclays Bank in Lanchester.

She was known to the staff and when she signed the cheques in the name of the account holder she claimed she had been through a divorce and was using her maiden name.

But bank staff were suspicious and contacted the account holder Chambers, 45, of Cedar Avenue, Kimblesworth admitted theft, three counts of burglary, two of obtaining by deception and attempting to obtain cash by deception. She also admitted allowing premises to be used for the production of cannabis.

CAPTION(S):

COMMUNITY ORDER: Lynn Chambers stole from pensioners while pretending to collect for charity