Midwife escapes jail after stealing over £3,000 from High Street shops

Thursday 28 July 2016

A 53-year-old hospital midwife was handed a six-month probation order after stealing clothes, perfume and make-up worth over £3,000 from several leading St Helier stores.

The Magistrate's Court yesterday heard Eva Dancewicz was arrested after stealing items from Marks and Spencer in Liberty Wharf in February. When officers went to her home they found numerous clothes hanging up in her wardrobe, arranged store by store and many with the price tag still attached.

Prosecuting Centennier Phillip Coffey said: “On February 22 at 14.20 the defendant was seen putting two egg cups and a bottle of perfume into her bag. She was stopped outside the store by a security officer. When her bags were emptied there were found to be 18 items from the store and no proof of purchase. These items were worth £250.”

“She was arrested on suspicion of larceny and her home address was searched. There was a quantity of perfume, make-up and clothes. 

“The items all came from the larger retail stores such as New Look, BHS and Marks and Spencer. The clothing was organised by retailer, had not been worn and had price tags still attached. The total amount for the items identified as stolen came to £3,354.67.

“When interviewed by police she said she had taken five tablets for pain relief, not her usual one. She went swimming and could not recall her movements.”

Defending Advocate Martin Elks said Dancewicz was full of remorse for her actions and could lose her job as a midwife at Jersey General Hospital, where she has worked for the last four years.

Advocate Elks said: “You are able to impose a more severe sentence but I hope I show the court that would not be an appropriate way to proceed. 

“The defendant was brought up impoverished in Poland and since 1985 has worked as a nurse and midwife across Europe. She has been employed as a midwife in Jersey since 2012 and is held in high regard for her work ethic. 

“She has no previous convictions and at the time of her offending she was on a high dosage as medication for pain. She was a long term victim of domestic abuse from her now estranged husband. This all acted as a catalyst for her offending. 

“Her reputation is in tatters and the likelihood is that she will lose her job as a midwife as a result of these proceedings. She fully accepts responsibility for her actions. This is a classic indication of psychological disorder as the items taken were not for her gain. 

“She is extremely remorseful and ashamed of her actions and is seeking counsel from a psychologist. I hope the court focusses on rehabilitation, rather than punishment.”

Relief Magistrate David Le Cornu, on sentencing Dancewicz to six-months probation, said: “Please take advantage of the probation period and I am sure the court will not see you again.”