Bingo: Bingo partner stole dead woman's cash

A WOMAN who stole from her bingo partner's bank account after she died escaped a jail sentence yesterday after a judge told her that she would be "a fish out of water" in prison.

Diane Jones, 48, was instead ordered to pay £1,570 compensation to the estate of Maureen Board after pleading guilty to theft at Cardiff Crown Court.

Prosecutor Julian Greenwood said Mrs Board had given Jones her bank card and pin number to withdraw her bingo money for her, but that she continued to withdraw cash after her death.

Matthew Cobbe, defending, said it was Jones' case that Mrs Board loaned her £500 of the money before she died last autumn. The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Nicholas Cooke QC, told Jones: "You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.

"This was disgraceful behaviour."

"I impose a curfew order so whereas the rest of us will be able to enjoy the relatively sunny evenings, you won't."

She was ordered to pay £300 costs.

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