Secret heroin hell of project manager

Boss hid dark secret court hears

THE secret heroin hell of a homelessness project boss has been revealed to Newbury magistrates.

Despite an outwardly respectable existence, involving managerial roles and university study, Claire Tina Leonard was harbouring a terrible secret.

She had slipped back into addiction – and the drug’s relentless grip prompted her to snatch a pensioner’s handbag, the court was told on Thursday, July 9.

The 37-year-old’s fall from grace was complete when she targetted Sandra Verber, after befriending her in the street.

Helen Waite, prosecuting, said 75-year-old Ms Verber was waiting for a bus when Ms Leonard, of Skyllings, Newbury, came and sat beside her.

The pensioner later told police: “She asked me what the time was. We were sitting next to each other and just passing the time. I had my handbag on the bench with me. I had some money inside it.”

Cash, in white envelopes, had been given to Ms Verber as birthday gifts, the court heard.

Ms Verber went on: “After a while she began manoeuvering round behind me. Suddenly she grabbed my bag and ran off. I shouted at her to give me back my bag and started to chase her. I feel she tricked me into a false sense of security.

“I was shocked.”

Alerted by Ms Verber’s shouts, others gave chase as Ms Leonard fled down an alleyway, magistrates were told.

Ms Waite said one man managed to retrieve one of the envelopes, containing just £35, but Ms Leonard herself escaped with the majority of the cash.

But, the court heard, she had left behind vital evidence in the form of a fingerprint on the envelope.

Ms Leonard’s troubled past then came back to haunt her – detectives were able to identify her from their records and she was eventually arrested.

In interview, said Ms Waite, she replied “no comment” throughout.

But she admitted stealing £134 from Ms Verber in Reading on April 8 this year.

Phil Kouvaritakis, defending, said the “reflective and self aware” way in which Ms Leonard presented herself was in contrast to the offence and deliberate targetting of a vulnerable, older lady.

He said his client had successfully fulfilled a trusted management role in a small business while studying at university part-time.

Subsequently, he added, she became manageress of a Berkshire homelessness project.

However, the funding lapsed and she found herself out of a job... and it was then, the court heard, that Ms Leonard slid back into drug addiction.

Mr Kouvaritakis said: “She was badly withdrawing and needed to fund this habit. It is costing her £20 a day and she knows she needs to address it.

“She has proved that she can live as a productive, functional member of society.”

However, he conceded that the nature of the offence meant a custodial sentence was likely.

Magistrates ordered pre-sentence reports.

Ms Leonard was meanwhile released on unconditional bail until August 6.