A court has heard how a Moray drug addict stole a birthday card, containing cash for a child, in an “opportunistic theft”.
Sharon Geddes pushed past customers as she fled from an Elgin pub after lifting a bag containing the gift.
Yesterday, the Forres resident appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to stealing money from the card.
Fiscal Alex Swain explained Geddes, 38, had been drinking in Elgin’s Muckle Cross pub on August 27, 2015 before spotting a friend who was out with others.
She said: “While the group were sitting at a table, the witness took out a birthday card from a carrier bag and stated it was for his daughter.
“He took out £200 in cash and put it in the card and put it back into the carrier bag.
“The witness then went to the bar and the accused stated she was going to steal the card.”
Customers standing at the door then saw Geddes run from the Muckle Cross and down the street.
Defence solicitor Stephen Carty said: “At the time, she was going through a fairly bad period of drug use. The opportunity presented itself and it’s a matter of great regret to her.”
Geddes, of Castlehill Road in Forres, was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work, placed under supervision for 12 months and ordered to pay £200 in compensation after pleading guilty to stealing a card with cash inside.