Elaine Peat, from Welling, had been friends with Carol Cue for over 50 years and said she treated her “like a sister”.
Elaine said she felt “numb” when she discovered that Cue had been stealing priceless keepsakes from her jewellery box including a ring which had belonged to her dead brother.
Cue then revealed she had pawned many of the items and had spent the money whilst staying at Elaine’s holiday home in France.
Cue, 75, of Rochester Way, pleaded guilty to theft and narrowly avoided being sent to prison by a judge who described her actions as “mean and despicable”.
‘I was numb and shocked’
Prosecutor Jade Sodipo outlined the facts at Cue’s sentencing hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, March 28.
Elaine had noticed her jewellery box was out of place in October last year and soon discovered that many items including priceless engagement and wedding rings were missing from inside, Ms Sodipo said.
When Elaine confronted her friend about this, Cue told her: “On my life I didn’t steal your rings.”
Ms Sodipo said Elaine went to two local pawn shops who confirmed that Cue was a customer of theirs.
With her lies quickly unravelling and a police investigation underway, Cue invited Elaine to her home and confessed everything.
“Initially I was numb and shocked that someone I knew for over 50 years could have done this to me when I’ve been so good to her,” Elaine told the court.
“I asked Carol why she suddenly did this to me after I knew her for so long and treated her as a sister-in-law. She told me she didn’t know why.”
Carol went to the pawn shop to try to buy the items back but they had already been sold, the court heard.
“I’ve lost so many precious milestones and memories, particularly rings given to me by my deceased brother,” Elaine said.
‘Destruction of a friendship’
Cue, who had no previous criminal record, pleaded guilty to theft.
The court heard that in total Cue received around £750 for the jewellery she had pawned.
At the sentencing hearing Judge David Aubrey KC demanded to know what Cue had spent the money on.
As Cue explained that she had spent it on a holiday to France, Elaine remarked from the back of the court “in my home”.
Cue said she was extremely remorseful and would do anything to turn back the clocks.
Carol Cue (Image: Met Police)Judge Aubrey said: “You had been friends with the victim in this case for in excess of 50 years, the victim described her relationship with you as being like a sister-in-law.
“The offence you pleaded guilty to was a mean and despicable offence. The items you stole were not just of monetary value, though they were of considerable monetary worth.
“They held her memories. They were her treasures. Some were engagement rings or wedding rings, rings of or from deceased members of family.
“They had extreme sentimental value to her and they are all now irreplaceable and gone forever because not only did you steal them, you then pawned them.”
He continued: “What did you do with the money you obtained? It appears you went on holiday, and not only on holiday, you went and stayed at your victim’s house in France.
“That can only exacerbate the destruction of a friendship of over 50 years.”
Judge Aubrey commented that Cue could have no complaints if he decided to send her to prison immediately.
But he concluded that her sentence could be suspended, explaining that she had avoided prison very narrowly.
Cue was given a 10-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, including three months of curfew.
“It is hoped and indeed anticipated that your victim in this case will seek to pursue damages in the small claims county court,” Judge Aubrey said.
