Community service for woman involved in toy theft case

A Douglas woman who became embroiled in her ex-partner's thieving spree has been ordered to pay back to the local community. 

25-year-old Charlotte Hughes was sentenced at Douglas Courthouse yesterday - she'd previously admitted handling stolen goods, worth over £3000, between October and December 2015. 

Police raided the unemployed mother's flat in December 2015 and found an 'Aladdin's Cave' of stolen toys and household goods stored in 'every conceivable location'. 

Hughes and her partner - 34-year-old Mark Hughes - were arrested; she initially denied responsibility for the 396 items telling police she didn't know they were stolen but later backtracked. 

Mr Hughes, who was stealing the items and re-selling them on social media sites, later admitted to his offending - in October last year he was jailed for 12 months. 

During the sentencing hearing Miss Hughes' advocate told the court she hadn't stolen any of the items but had suspicions about their origin and did accompany Mr Hughes on one occasion to make a sale. 

He said there was an "element of naivety" to her offending, which he said was "entirely out of character", adding "she wasn't the brains behind the operation". 

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes ordered her to carry out 180 hours of community service and to pay £300 in prosecution costs. 

Describing her as the "participant" rather than the "main player" she told her "you were clearly aware something was going on".