Serial thief dubbed worst female criminal by judge
A SERIAL thief who targeted a pensioner shopping with her disabled daughter has been labelled as the worst female criminal a judge has ever seen.
Judge Paul Glenn told Penelope Russell, who has committed 227 previous offences, that he had never before encountered a woman with so many convictions.
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Russell stole a handbag from Dorothy Hall's trolley as she shopped at Tesco, in Meir Park, on March 11.
Prosecutor Fiona Cortese yesterday told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court Mrs Hall, aged 74, had put her shoulder bag in her trolley while she was shopping with her daughter, who has Down's syndrome.
But 40 minutes later when she got to the till she noticed her bag was not there.
She reported the matter to police and the store's CCTV was viewed.
"The defendant was seen to enter minutes before Mrs Hall and leave shortly after and appeared to be carrying an additional bag," said Miss Cortese.
Russell was identified by a police officer and arrested the next day. But she denied it was her who had taken the bag.
Mrs Hall and her daughter were both left upset by the theft and the court heard Mrs Hall now felt unsafe when shopping.
That offence happened just a week after Russell struck at Sainsbury's, Stoke, on February 4. The victim had put her handbag in her trolley which she left unattended for a few seconds while at the meat section.
Miss Cortese said a store detective saw Russell enter with a hood up and she appeared to be covering up her face.
She said: "She was seen to put her hand in the trolley and remove the handbag. He went to the meat aisle but she had left."
Russell was arrested and denied it was her.
Despite the original denials the 42-year-old, of Tirley Street, Fenton, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft.
The court heard she has 227 previous offences, including 129 for theft and 52 for fraud and related matters.
Nicola Bell, mitigating, acknowledged the offences caused the victims distress and conceded only a custodial sentence could follow.
She said Russell has been committing offences since she was a teenager. "Her record is dreadful and far too long," said Ms Bell.
But she said Russell had been doing very well in ridding herself of her drug addiction.
"It is not a life she enjoys, it is a life committed to a battle with heroin," said Ms Bell.
"She was nearly there. All those working with her and closest to her believe there was a genuine effort. They are gutted.
Judge Glenn jailed Russell for a total of two years – six months for the Sainsbury's theft, 12 months for the Tesco theft and six months which he activated from a suspended sentence Russell breached by committing the thefts.
He told Russell: "You have a truly appalling record.
"I have never seen a female offender with so many convictions.
"You are a professional criminal and the public deserve a rest from you, particularly the female shoppers you so regularly target."
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by bexiruss
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 10:40AM
“TFMspace. How dare you!!! This woman has not been clean for the past 18 months and that is a fact!!! She has robbed and stolen from innocent, elderly women, and the last one had her disabled daughter with her. There is absolutely no excuse in this world for what she has done. As for winning a award, yes she did but as i have said previously she plays the system, she says and does what they want her to say to get her through. Her last conviction was october 2010 and yes she was doing drugs then as well. I suggest that you get your facts right and judge this filth as she deserves. As a member of the family we are mortified at her behaviour and as for giving her credit, no chance. Taking drugs is a lifestyle that she has chosen, stealing from innocent women is a lifestyle that she has chosen, don't you dare sit there all righteous and preaching about her success. As for fearing for her life, Penny Russell fears nothing except not being able to snatch someones handbag, at the end of the day if she had not chosen her lifestyle then no one would be after money would they. None of that has helped her poor victims has it, some of her victims daren't even go out shopping now. As far as i am concerned they throw away the key and save us all some money.”
by Longton101
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 9:04AM
“TMFSpace..... You ask what people would do in the situation you describe. Personally, if I had worked my way out of a hole like that and had anything about me, I'd go to the police and report said dirty s**m drug dealer. Of-course this might be braking the law of the underclass of 'thou shalt not grass or go to the plod' but frankly that would not bother me any. It would be a lot better then going on the rob from old ladies doing there shopping in Tesco with her disabled daughter, don't you think. This ones time wasting s**m and I hope she rots in her cell.”
by TFMSpace
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 8:17AM
“I would like to ask if any body has asked why penelope , commited the crime that she did? well let me tell you, yes she has had a drug addiction all of her life that stems from her childhood, but thats no exuse for what she has done and yes she has spent many of years behind bars for the crimes she has committed, but no body has stated that she has been clean and off drugs for the past 18months , gone to college done her NVQ's and attended DRR and has been awarded Learner of the year for trying to chang her life around only until what we call s*** of a so call drug dealer from her past many years ago who she owed money to tracked her down and demaned that she had to pay him the money she owed him or he would do her serious harm threats to her and her family so you tell me what you would do if that situation if you was being threatened and you feared for your life. So if that called s*** of a drug dealer hadnt of tracked her down and demaned the money then this crim wouldnt of happened,Its QUICK TO JUDGE SOME BODY WHEN YOU DONT KNOW THE TRUE FACTS AROUND WHY THE PERSON COMMITTED THE CRIME IN THE FIRST PLACE BY JUDGING A BOOK BY ITS COVER.”
by bexiruss
Sunday, June 26 2011, 8:20PM
“in response to some of the comments made, she has spent time in prison many times, she plays the system, does and says what she has to so that she then gets early release.She has also been barred from many supermarkets in the Stoke on Trent area but sadly it is very diificult to manage that plan but she has also spread herself out as far as stone, she will go to any lengths to get her drugs. All i can say is at least we should have a theft free christmas this year, from her anyway.”
by mrhobbs
Sunday, June 26 2011, 5:19PM
“as someon who worked with people in the drugs and alcohol field, i believe that there are too many what i can only call 'lies' around the issue of drugs.
The truth is that drug addicts (in the main there are exemptions to the rule) should not be treated as 'sick' in the true sense. I do not believe it is an 'illness' as it is presented. this only serves the purposes of the service providers for funding purposes
needle exchanges should be called free needles, as no exchange takes place
drugs awareness programmes tell kids how to take drugs 'safely' not to not take them
we have to pay a prescription charge for something that is not self imposed, yet methadone is free
Just little examples, i know they may be controversial and many will disagree, but thats just conditioning. I urge you all to look at the 'awareness' campaigns and programmes (drugs alcohol and even teenage pregnancy) and tell me if they have increased or decreased?
As for legalising drugs, for me thats saying it OK. We can never send that message to our kids no matter what. The fact is drug habits are not cheap and you have to be 'clever' and 'devious' in obtaining them, the people who do obviously are able to come to the decision they should have to live with it
This country is getting ridicilous when a burglar has more rights in my house than I do
And before anyone says, I had a very close friend who died as a result of years of heroin abuse. He was a lovely lad and is sorely missed.”
by kevbagnall
Sunday, June 26 2011, 5:11PM
“low life”
by Longton101
Sunday, June 26 2011, 4:07PM
“It's nice to see family of this woman pointing out that she has been given help to change and as let people down. Well said Bexiruss, every person as there own mind, this fools actions do not reflex on you in any way. as for barring from Supermarkets, its up to each supermarket, it would be very hard to do. You are not just talking one place hear, you might be talking 30 or 40 large locations within the city that attack many people.”
by Anon_mow_cop
Sunday, June 26 2011, 2:23PM
“Why didn't the judge also give a lifetime ban from any supermarkets in the Stoke-on-Trent area,with return to prison if she broke the order. I have to admire the family member who had the moral courage to denounce this criminal, its a pity more people didn't do the same thing instead of trying to condone their actions, I take my hat off to you bexiruss, you are a good example to us all.”
by underdog2
Saturday, June 25 2011, 9:34PM
“How has she managed to avoid prison for this long? Am I missing something or can you just do as you please and only after 227 odd offences actually get locked up. Whats wrong with sticking her in a room and leaving her to go cold turkey, I think Bexiruss has said it all really and good on her!”
by bexiruss
Saturday, June 25 2011, 3:18PM
“I am a member of this family and i can not apologise enough to the victims that she has preyed on. She is beyond any help, she does not want help,. There are certain people in this world that are born evil, she is one of them. She does not deserve tax payers money being wasted on her in trying to "Help" her, we say throw away the key, stop making excuses up for her, she is a low life. She should be locked up for a damn sight longer than what has been given. Im all for giving people a chance but her?? She has had all the chances she deserves, i agree with one of the previous points, a good old OD would do the trick and save the economy a hell of a lot of money. Penny Russell, you should be absolutely ashamed of your actions, how do you sleep knowing what you have done to these poor women? The judge said you were a professional thief, well you are pretty **** at it girl, you been caught so many times now that you have become a standing joke, rot away woman!!!!”