Thief jailed after stealing his own barrister’s mobile phone
Bobby Heath, 26, pinched Charlotte Johnson's £300 Samsung Galaxy during an appearance at Bexley Magistrates’ Court
A CROOK who pinched his own defence solicitor's mobile phone - DURING a court hearing - has been jailed for two weeks.
Bobby Heath was appearing at Bexley Magistrates’ Court in south London on drug and driving charges when he stole lawyer Charlotte Johnson's £300 Samsung Galaxy phone.
Camberwell Green JPs heard on June 21 how the 26-year-old had just pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and driving without insurance and was chatting with Miss Johnson after the case.
Heath had been ordered to pay £165 in fines and £170 in court costs - as well as getting six points on his driving licence - and was talking to his lawyer about how he would pay his fines on May 1 2015.
As they chatted, however, Heath waited until his lawyer turned her back to him and pinched her phone - the value of which would nearly cover his fines.
Camberwell Green JPs heard how after their meeting, Heath left the courtroom - while Miss Johnson realised her phone was missing, and promptly reported it stolen to the police.
PC David Paine, who had given evidence in Heath's drug and driving case that same day, looked through CCTV from the court and found that Heath had swiped the phone.
Heath, of Rochester, Kent, was arrested and charged with theft on May 5 last year after being tracked down to an address in Rochester, Kent.
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He was found guilty of theft in his absence after he refused to leave his prison cell - where he is serving time for an unrelated offence - last week.
And this week he had another 14 days added to his spell in jail - and was ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge.
Speaking after Heath was found guilty, PC Paine said: "I'm pleased with the conviction. Heath is a repeat offender. This crime shows he doesn't care who he targets or what misery he causes.
“I hope this case reassures the public we take this type of offence seriously, incidents will be fully investigated, we will pursue offenders, and we will prosecute them wherever possible.”
A spokesman for the Met said: "A man who stole his own barrister's mobile phone has been convicted.
"Bobby Heath, 26, was found guilty in his absence at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court of theft of a mobile phone at Bexley Magistrates' Court on 1 May 2015.
"On 1 May 2015, Heath had appeared at Bexley Magistrates' Court for drugs and driving offences, for which he was fined.
"After a meeting between Heath and his defence barrister, she realised that her Samsung Galaxy Smartphone was missing and reported it to police.
"PC David Paine from Greenwich Borough, at the court as part of the case that had been heard, reviewed CCTV and found the phone had been taken by Heath - who had already left the building.
"Enquiries to locate Heath eventually traced him to an address in Rochester, Kent, a few days later and he was arrested by PC Paine, and subsequently charged on 5 May 2015 with theft.
"Heath, who is serving a sentence for an unrelated matter, refused to leave prison and was tried in his absence."