Pregnant airport worker admits receiving £10,000 of looted goods from riots.

An airport worker who is five months pregnant admitted receiving £10,000 worth of stolen guitars and hair extensions looted during last week’s riots.

Alicia Wilkinson's Croydon home was “jam packed with stolen goods” and amongst the haul were several expensive guitars and two plasma TVs.

Ms Wilkinson, who has no prior convictions, admitted receiving the goods. She was remanded in custody despite being five months pregnant.

Her boyfriend and his younger brother, an A level student working at Top Shop, were also remanded in custody.

The 22-year-old, who has lived in Croydon all her life and works at Gatwick Airport, lives with boyfriend Nicholas Cuffy, 20, who also admitted receiving stolen goods which belonged to the Richer Sounds shop in Croydon. The shop was looted in last Monday's violence.

Cuffy, a mechanic and manager in training with Volvo, told the court he bought the two TVs during a market in Vauxhall. But he could not explain how he came to possess the music equipment.

 

His younger brother Neil Cuffy, 19, who lives with the pair did not enter a plea during their hearing at the Croydon Magistrates’ Court.

The promising student finished his A Levels last year and is hoping to begin University this September. He is now working at Top Shop during his gap year. Robert Simpson, prosecuting, said police executed a warrant at the address on Sunday.

"They executed a warrant and Miss Wilkinson was home. The flat was literally packed with stolen guitars and music equipment.

"The police also found documentation linking Neil Cuffy to the address. All have given that address as their home to the court today and officers said there was no way one could have been unaware the house was full of stolen property.

"There is also a further charge pending in regards to the hair extensions that was found in the property.

"This is a more significant value of property then we have been dealing with earlier and as such there is a substantial risk that they might fail to appear."

Ms Wilkinson’s defence lawyer said his client had worked at Gatwick Airport for three years and been with Mr Cuffy for more than a year.

He pleaded with the judge to consider her condition and release Ms Wilkinson on bail.

He said: "You may not be able to tell by her sitting down but she is five months pregnant and given her condition we ask you to admit her to bail by electronic curfew."

Nicholas Cuffy’s defence barristers said his client had worked at Volvo for four year and had completed his mechanic’s apprenticeship.

"He has no assets to be running from the court and must stay in Croydon to continue his work."

While Rukhsana Hayat, representing younger brother Neil, said her client had never been in trouble with law and would not run.

But District Judge Robert Hunter said due to the serious nature of the charges he could not grant bail.

The trio will appear for a committal hearing on August 22 at 9.30am at Croydon Magistrates Court.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk