Spy cam catches mum with hand in kids' money jar

Hayley Anna Pearce was caught red-handed with her hand in the money jar after her partner’s mother, Angela Morris, set a high-tech trap, the court was told.
Naomi Edwards, prosecuting, said Ms Morris, who lives at Gaywood Drive, Newbury, set up the secret camera to catch the thief who had been raiding the savings intended to be spent on her grandchildren’s holiday.
When the film was replayed, the court heard, it showed the thief was none other than the children’s 29-year-old mother, who lives at Southend, Cold Ash.
Ms Edwards said: “Ms Morris had been caring for the children at her own home and the defendant would visit twice a week. Ms Morris had been saving to take the children on holiday but it was going missing and she set up the camera to discover what was going on.
“It showed Ms Pearce standing on a chair to get to the jar; putting her hand in; taking the money and putting it in her pocket. The full amount taken is unknown.”
Ms Pearce admitted stealing an unknown amount of money belonging to Ms Morris between September 11 and September 26 this year.
She also has previous convictions, the court was told.
Catherine Brymer, defending, conceded that her client knew the money was intended to finance a holiday for her own children but added: “The aggrieved said nothing of her concerns. She admits borrowing the money for food.”
She said her client had been forced to live in a women’s refuge for a time but that her partner, Ms Morris’ son, was now in prison.
Mrs Brymer added: “Ms Morris is now making arrangements for residency regarding the children, so there may be other issues at work here.”
She said her client claimed to have replaced much of the money and that she paid Ms Morris to look after her children.
In addition, the court heard, Ms Pearce owes rent arrears to her landlords, Sovereign Housing association.
Magistrates made Ms Pearce subject to a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay a statutory surcharge of £15.