A predatory Aberdeen street beggar has been ordered to repay cash she stole from vulnerable victims.
Julie Hayworth, 29, stole £350 from two people who had previously been kind enough to spare her some change as she begged on the city centre’s streets.
But after he’d entered his pin code Hayworth took over the keypad and withdrew £150 before sprinting off.
The man “pleaded” with her to return the cash then reported the robbery after she ran off.
Fiscal depute Miral Jaber told Aberdeen Sheriff Court a second offence, against a woman but on King Street in July 2020, was “almost identical”.
Followed a woman to her home
“The witness had given the accused money on several occasions without being asked,” Ms Jaber said. “On one occasion, the accused went to her home and asked her for money. She pressured her into going to a cash machine with her to get cash to give her.
“The woman pulled out what was to be a small amount but the accused saw her use her pin number and used the ATM in her place. She typed in £200 and that’s the amount she withdrew from the woman’s account.”
Hayworth admitted stealing a total of £350 from the two victims.
Defence agent Chris Maitland said Hayworth was a “vulnerable young woman” who was previously “entrenched in a toxic relationship”.
Mr Maitland said his client has learning difficulties resulting in a “lack of empathy” and a “failure to understand the impact of her offending”.
‘These were people that had helped you’
Sheriff Philip Mann, who had previously said a jail sentence was “likely”, ordered Hayworth to repay the £350 to those she stole from.
He said: “This is a nasty way to steal money from people. These were people that had helped you in the past.”
The sheriff warned Hayworth: “You need to understand these orders are an alternative to a custodial sentence. If you break these orders, and in particular if you don’t pay the compensation, it will result in a custodial sentence.
“Remember, it won’t be the court that is sending you to jail…”
“I know, it will be myself,” Hayworth interrupted.
Hayworth, of Elphinstone Court, Aberdeen, has two years to pay back the £350 she stole. She was also handed a two-year supervision order.
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