Veteran fraudster convicted yet again after charity box theft

Amanda Futcher back to her old tricks

A VETERAN fraudster who has fleeced kind-hearted local folk for years has been convicted yet again - this time for the theft of a charity box.

Amanda Futcher, who has 145 previous convictions, has been up to her old tricks following her early release from prison.

The 35-year-old, of Newtown Road, was jailed for 28 months in April 2014, prompting police to say her victims had earned a rest from her activities.

But her sentence was subsequently reduced after an appeal court ruled it was "manifestly excessive".

And at Reading Magistrates' Court yesterday (Wednesday) she pleaded guilty to her latest crime - the theft of a poppy appeal charity box from the Newbury branch of the Royal British legion on Monday.

She was both charged and convicted at the hearing on Wednesday and fined £150 for the offence.

Investigating Officer PC Emma Cox, from Newbury police station said "This was a particularly emotive crime as the charity box was for the Poppy Appeal, however any crime of this nature will not be tolerated."