A Heathrow employee was caught stealing a weary passenger’s suitcase, rifling through it, and absconding with £29,000 worth of jewelry
Priti Sthankiya told police she was "going through a difficult time" after admitting she wheeled the woman’s bag away from Terminal 2 and hid it under a carousel before removing valuables
A Heathrow baggage handler who stole £29,000 worth of jewellery from a mislaid suitcase has avoided going to prison.
Priti Sthankiya wheeled the bag away from Terminal 2 and hid it under a carousel before taking out designer handbags with £500 in cash, Ray Ban sunglasses, a designer watch, MacBook, and diamond ring on January 20 last year, the Old Bailey heard.
Sandhya Gunesh and her partner had just landed having been on holiday in Mauritius, and were feeling tired when they forgot to put their hand luggage on trolley as they left the airport, MyLondon reports.
Soon they realised their mistake, and Ms Gunesh tracked her MacBook to the airport. She made several trips to check if their missing items had been handed in. However Heathrow staff said the luggage was still missing. She called police who looked at CCTV which showed Sthankiya sneaking off with the suitcase.
Priti Sthankiya ( Image: MyLondon)
The 46-year-old was arrested at her home on Hatton Road in Wembley on January 24 where she claimed the jewellery was hers, and, having removed the suitcase tag, pretended the bag was hers too. After a search of home home and work locker, which she directed police to, most of the items were found.
But around £4,000 of items remain missing - including the $3,000 diamond ring, £500 in cash, and designer sunglasses. After admitting what she had done, Sthankiya told police she was "going through a difficult time", prosecutor Ryan Evans told the court.
Defence counsel Jonathan Whitley said it was his client’s job to notify security of missing items, so they could then trace and contact the owners. But, he argued, her responsibility was unlike that of a pension fund manager or similar role, as he called for medium culpability, which earns a lighter sentence.
Recorder Ian Stern KC immediately dismissed this, telling Mr Whitley: "She has direct responsibility for baggage. That’s what she is there for. It could not be a higher breach of trust, could it?" Mr Whitley was forced to concede the point, but compared her crime to a hotel worker stealing from a guest.
The barrister went on to explain Sthankiya - who worked in the role for eight years before she was sacked - was "extraordinarily" distressed due to a divorce, had accrued significant debts, but was "hard working" and "a lady of integrity" who was unable to explain why she had done it.
Interjecting again, Recorder Stern noted Sthankiya had initially told police she had "not intended" to steal the bag, because "she believed it was her own" before backtracking on her story. Mr Whitley responded: "She’s trying to find an explanation for what she did. I say that’s grasping at things."
But he argued Sthankiya had shown remorse - despite a probation report which stated "she continues to accept minimum responsibility" - and called for a suspended sentence. "She is deeply ashamed to be here before the court," added Mr Whitley.
Recorder Stern agreed she had shown remorse as he decided the case deserved a suspended prison term. "It appears you have had a difficult, not to say torrid, time over the last few years," he noted.
Sthankiya was sentenced to 12 months suspended for 12 months and must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a six-month mental health treatment requirement. She was not ordered to pay costs or compensation.
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