No jail for thief

Purse snatcher reaches out to her victim on Facebook.

A woman who stole a purse from a stroller inside a Tim Hortons avoided jail time after a judge gave her a suspended sentence Monday in provincial court.

Amanda Lee Trainor appeared before Judge John Douglas in Charlottetown for sentencing on the theft and breaching a condition of her probation.

The court heard the victim went to the Tim Hortons on St. Peters Road in September with a friend who had a child in a stroller. While they were inside, Trainor dropped some items near the stroller.

When she bent down to pick them up, Trainor also grabbed the purse.

The entire incident was caught on surveillance video.

At some point after the theft, Trainor contacted the victim on Facebook to apologize and say she took the purse.

The total value of everything stolen was $358, including a $200 gift card.

The Crown estimated it cost the victim about $200 to replace everything else, including the woman’s identification.

Before hearing her sentence, Trainor, who has a prior record, addressed the court to say it was not like her because she usually steals from stores, although she added that didn’t make it better.

“I’m very remorseful for doing this,” she said.

With the suspended sentence, Trainor will be on probation for one year.

Douglas ordered her to pay $200 in restitution and perform 20 hours of community service.

Trainor, who is on social assistance, brought $20 to court to put toward that restitution.