Chester homeless man stole money from a charitable woman while she helped others in a care centre

Oct 27 2011 by Rachel Flint, Chester Chronicle

A HOMELESS man stole money from a charitable womans purse while she was downstairs working at a Chester homeless centre.

Gerard Palmarie, 31, sneaked into the staff room at the Harold Tomlins Day Centre on Grosvenor Street, Chester and stole £60 from the purse of a female member of staff.

Appearing before Chester magistrates, Gerard, who now lives in Hillside Road, Blacon, pleaded guilty to theft after being seen on CCTV taking the cash.

The court heard how at 8am on August 17 Racheal Cousins went to work, hanging her handbag up in the staff room, which was out of bounds for clients.

She had £100 in her purse at the start of the day but when she was on her way home she noticed she only had £40 left.

Prosecutor Ann Rouse said: She phoned the manager at around 4.10pm, she was clearly very upset. The day after the CCTV was viewed and the defendant was seen at the top of the stairs walking into the changing area. He appears to take an item and then walk away placing something in his pocket.

Palmarie, who has previous convictions for shoplifting, theft, possession of class B drugs, and anti-social behaviour, originally denied the theft but later admitted he had taken the money.

Defending, Howard Jones said: At the time he was homeless and had gone to get some socks from the centre. He looked into the room and there was a handbag hanging there. His partner of some years had given birth and he stole the money to buy items for the child. He is ashamed of this behaviour, he knows the people are there to help people like him. It was not a personal theft; he did not target that person.

Magistrates sentenced Palmarie to a 12 month community order and ordered him to pay £65 compensation and £85 in court costs.