Woman jailed for multiple offences

A woman who was hit by a bus while fleeing the scene of a burglary on a stolen pedal bike has been sentenced for multiple offences.

Alaina Pitcher, aged 39, c/o HMP Peterborough, used a brick to smash the side window of a house in Dereham Road on Wednesday 13 September 2023.

Once inside she broke through a locked door to steal random household items and a laptop.

She left the property on a bike stolen from the garden and moments later, at around 8.45am, was hit by a bus.

Emergency services were called and she was taken to hospital.

Later the same day a burglary was reported to police listing items which matched those she had in her possession.

She was arrested on 15 September 2023, after she was discharged from hospital.

Officers then established that earlier the same day she stole a mobile phone from a passer-by who went to her aid after she fell while riding an electric scooter in the Mile Cross area.

She was verbally abusive to the woman grabbing her phone as she tried to called the emergency services.

She then tried to sell it on in the next street to someone who described her as “looking like someone who needed help.”

Initially she gave a "no comment" interview, but later while in prison engaged with Operation Converter and made full and frank admissions to the robbery and burglary as well as 14 other crimes she was suspected of.

She said she understood the woman she took the phone from would have felt frightened as she was only trying to help.

She said she was disgusted with her actions and wanted help for her drug addiction which was fuelling her behaviour.

She appeared for sentencing at Norwich Crown Court on Friday 3 May 2024 where she was handed a 40 month jail sentence

Taken into considering by the court were the 14 other offences she admitted to which included a number of burglaries, theft from shops, and criminal damage totalling almost £2,900.

Duncan Etchells, staff supervisor for Op Converter which encourages suspects to admit to more crimes in a bid to wipe their slates clean and provide an outcome for victims, said: “Pitcher’s offending has had a big impact on the local community and her victims in particular.

"This was fuelled by her out of control drug habit which drove her to commit her crimes. She has shown remorse for her behaviour and a willingness to rid herself of the addiction behind her offending.

“Hopefully, now she has been brought before the court she can make a new start and access the help she needs.”