She had convictions for 72 previous offences and a long history of drug problems
A woman with a long history of drug problems and crime has been warned that, if she is “not careful”, the next “property” that she might be living in “will be near Wakefield” – New Hall Prison. Mother-of-two Kimberly Taylor narrowly avoided being jailed for dishonesty offences, after earlier also being spared prison for other offences.
On that occasion, she stole a car that contained a young boy’s fifth birthday presents after opening the door to a house, reaching inside and taking the car keys from a hook before driving off in the vehicle, Hull Crown Court heard. Taylor, 42, of Westbourne Avenue, west Hull, admitted handling a stolen bank card and an offence of fraud on November 13.
Katy Welford, prosecuting, said that a number of items, including a laptop and a bank card, were stolen from a property. The only item later found on Taylor was a bank card. It was used at a convenience store off-licence in Newland Avenue, west Hull.
“The victim received a text message from her bank saying that a payment had been declined for that payment for alcohol,” said Miss Welford. Taylor was seen by police on December 2 and she was arrested and taken into custody.
She made no comment to all questions during police interview. She had convictions for 72 previous offences, including being given a 32-week suspended prison sentence in October 2024 after she admitted burglary and the theft of a car on August 5 of that year.
Taylor told the court that she committed the latest offences out of “stupidness” and she admitted that she had a drug problem, although she was receiving help for this. She claimed that she had been clean of drugs for three days.
“I’m a mum of two – I don’t want to be like this,” she said. “There won’t be a next time. There won’t be.”
Judge Mark Bury said that Taylor had a poor record for offences such as fraud and she had already been given a suspended sentence in October 2024. “When you committed these two offences, you were putting yourself in danger of going to prison,” said Judge Bury.
“You are still taking drugs. You are trying to take small steps.” Taylor was fortunate that she had a “property” – a flat – where she could live.
“If you are not careful, the next property you will be living in will be near Wakefield,” said Judge Bury – a reference to New Hall Prison. “You do anything stupid, you are going to custody.
“I’m going to give you a chance. For goodness sake, take it. Prison next time.” Taylor was given five days’ rehabilitation.
At the previous hearing in October 2024, when Taylor was given the 32-week suspended sentence, the court was told that she heartlessly stole a car that contained a young boy’s fifth birthday presents. She opened the door to a house, reached inside and took the car keys from a hook before driving off in the vehicle.
The woman who owned the car needed it for work and for her son’s hospital appointments. The presents had to be replaced.
When the car was eventually found and returned, it had unpleasant urine and food stains all over the seats, causing the owner to burst into tears, the court heard that day. Taylor was seen in hessle -road>Hessle Road, west Hull, before walking down Wellsted Street to an alleyway that went behind the victim’s house.
The woman who lived there later noticed that her door was open. She was concerned because she had earlier closed it. The keys to her car had been on a hook but they were no longer there.
The car had gone. CCTV pictures showed Taylor emerge from the alleyway, unlock the car and drive off in it. She was traced and arrested on August 7 of that year.
During police interview, she claimed to know nothing of the offences and that she could not understand why she had been arrested. She denied any responsibility for the offences.
The victim later said: “This has affected me emotionally and I am worried that this woman knows this address and has got a key to the address. I am incredibly angry and upset that this has happened.
“This theft has really upset me. I am terrified someone is going to break in. My son’s fifth birthday presents were in the car and have had to be replaced.”
She said that when the car was eventually returned, it had urine and food stains all over the seats. “I just burst into tears as soon as I saw it,” she said.
The value of the car and its contents was put at £1,000 to £2,000. As well as the suspended sentence, Taylor had, at the original hearing, been given six months’ drug rehabilitation and 20 days’ rehabilitation. She was ordered to pay £200 compensation.