Suspended sentence for would-be thief who spat at woman during struggle

Camilla Rumsey had attempted to steal four bottles of rum and a bottle of vodka from B&M Bargain Stores, in Howard Road, Eaton Socon, on July 30.

Last Wednesday, Peterborough Magistrates’ Court heard that the Rumsey was spotted attempting to steal the alcohol by an off-duty police officer who tried to detain her, with the help of her daughter.

“Her mother tells her daughter to be careful of her mouth and managed to get her head to the floor before the defendant tried to bite her [the victim’s] hand,” Mr Beaumont added.

After being unable to bite the victim, Rumsey, of Duck Lane, St Neots, spat at her.

“[She said] ‘I’ve got HIV and hepatitis C, wouldn’t it be funny if I got you?’” Mr Beaumont said.

In a separate offence, Rumsey was also discovered to have stolen four cans of beer from a branch of McColl’s, in High Street, St Neots, on July 20.

“A stock check was carried out and CCTV was reviewed at it seems that Ms Rumsey was identified from the CCTV,” Mr Beaumont added.

Jason Stevens, in mitigation, told the court: “This is a young lady who is in a difficult position. She went to prison as a drug user and came out of prison on a methadone script.

“For one reason or another she has committed these offences and she apologises.”

Mr Stevens added that since coming out of prison, Rumsey had been hanging around with the “wrong crowd”.

Rumsey pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and another count of assault by beating.

In sentencing the chairman of the bench, said: “This was a very nasty incident in which you spat at somebody and made threats to them that put them in fear for their lives.”

Rumsey was handed an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay compensation of £50 to the victim, £9.40 for the cans of beer, along with £85 court costs and £115 victim surcharge.

She was also handed a £50 fine for a separate offence of failing to hand over a rail ticket in Huntingdon on May 5.