Retired nurse jailed for jewel theft

A 59-YEAR-OLD retired nurse broke down in tears and begged for leniency after she pleaded guilty  to larceny of $15,000 in jewelry before a San Fernando magistrate yesterday. Most of the jewelry was later recovered from a pawn shop. However, Theresa Rena Winsborough’s tears were in vain. Acting deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington sentenced her to six months imprisonment. The case was prosecuted by Cpl Wendell Fernando and the charge was laid by PC Bachan of Marabella CID.

The court heard that on March 5, Winsborough went to the house of her friend, Yvonne David, at Bay Road, Marabella, to spend the weekend.  David secured her jewelry, including a gold bracelet, gold band, two gold chains with pendants, two pairs of earrings, three gold bangles, a diamond ring and an engagement ring, in a plastic bag which she placed in a wardrobe. Later that day Winsborough announced that she was no longer spending the weekend and left David’s home.

Three weeks later, on March 27 around 8 am, David checked for her jewelry and discovered the items missing. A report was made to Marabella Police Station and investigations were conducted by Cpl Edward Levia, PC Bachan and other officers. A search warrant was executed at Winsborough’s Sagan Drive, Champs Fleurs home on March 28 and the police discovered two receipts for the sale of a quantity of jewelry to a well-known jewelry store in Port-of-Spain.  The officers went to the jewelry store on Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, and most of David’s stolen jewelry, except for one earring, a gold bracelet and a chain with pendant was recovered.

In court yesterday, a weeping Winsborough told Magistrate Wellington: “I’m really sorry for what I did, please be lenient with me. Please! Please! I beg of you.” She said she would be able to pay a fine with the assistance of her son who lives in England. At first, Magistrate Wellington said he was considering imposing a fine but when he noted Winsborough’s “dishonest act” in the face of her previously clean record, he felt a prison sentence was more appropriate. Magistrate Wellington told Winsborough he would be sentencing her to six months in jail. On hearing the sentence, the retired nurse started crying loudly as court police officers took her away.