Thieving plane passenger stole designer handbag from shop in Heathrow Airport

A thieving plane passenger thought she could beat security at the UK's busiest airport when she brazenly helped herself to a handbag.

Blatant Gemma Rowell, who has nine offences for shoplifting on her record, the majority of which having been committed in the last 12 months, was captured on CCTV taking the designer bag from Kurt Geiger, inside London's Heathrow Airport. The 33-year-old then left the store without paying before boarding a flight to visit her partner.

Unfortunately for her, Rowell was easily identified and appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court this week to plead guilty to one count of shop theft. She was ordered to pay Kurt Geiger £159 compensation, which was the price of the bag she took.

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Prosecutor, Claire Armstrong, said Rowell, of Broxburn Close, in Wallsend, entered Kurt Geiger on September 20 last year. She added: "She looked at various handbags and selected a silver, cross body bag, valued at £159. She left the store without attempting to pay then got on a flight at the airport."

Mark Harrison, defending, said Rowell had been getting a flight to visit her partner and was in a "pretty dark place" at the time. Mr Harrison told the court: "It was a thoughtless offence and an unsophisticated one."

In July last year, ChronicleLive reported how Rowell was fined £369 after she helped herself to £1,200-worth of perfume and clothes from Fenwick. On that occasion, the crook claimed it was a one-off as she was desperate for money but had found a job and would stay out of trouble in future.

However, a month later, she gave into temptation by twice stealing from B&Q in just 48 hours, stealing a lamp and laser leveller, worth a total of £205. Rowell gave the excuse that she was renovating her home and was given yet another fine. A few weeks later, she committed her latest offences at Heathrow and, a few weeks after that, she was given a community order for further theft matters.

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