Veteran conwoman making ‘efforts to turn her life around’

Even an Asbo failed to deter Amanda Louise Futcher from fleecing kindly strangers.
She was finally jailed in 2009 for repeatedly pretending to have a desperately sick child to con people, once even accepting a lift from an elderly woman and repaying her kindness by raiding her handbag.
Victoria Griffiths, prosecuting, said that on this occasion Miss Futcher had gone into L’Occitane in Parkway and put a £39 bottle of moisturiser in her bag before approaching staff and asking for a refund.
They were suspicious, and declined, so Miss Futcher took the moisturiser and swept out of the shop, the court was told.
Ms Griffiths added: “CCTV footage confirmed staff’s suspicions and a police officer recognised the defendant.”
Thirty-three-year-old Miss Futcher, of Newtown Road, Newbury, admitted stealing the moisturiser on July 23 this year.
Peter Gotch, defending, said that she had stolen it as a birthday present for her daughter and admitted: “She has a pretty shocking history of offending. I’ve been dealing with her for a number of years and the problem was always drugs.”
However, he said, Miss Futcher had wrought a “remarkable turnaround” in her life since beating her addiction in 2010.
Mr Gotch added: “Until today, she has been offence-free for three years. She has got a college course doing animal care and wants to be a qualified veterinary nurse.
“Her previous convictions will be spent by the time she qualifies and, if you give her a conditional discharge today, it will not affect her prospective future career.”
Presiding magistrate Paul Dick said: “Your record has properly been described as shocking. However, we hear what your lawyer has said about the efforts you are making to turn your life around.
“You can’t afford to make another mistake, given your ambition. Don’t come back here again.”
Miss Futcher was made subject to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £39 compensation to the store plus a £15 victim surcharge.