The Polish shoplifter let off because of her ‘considerable talents’
A MODEL who tried to steal £1,000 worth of designer goods from Harrods was let off with a slap on the wrist after a magistrate said she was a woman of “considerable talents”.
Polish-born Natalia Sikorska was told she was also being shown special leniency as she was “a newcomer to this country”.
Blonde Sikorska, 28, was caught redhanded as she tried to sneak out of the Knightsbridge store with a haul of fashion items.
They included a jacket by Londonbased German designer Markus Lupfer – a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge.
Her haul worth a total of £959.59 also included a pair of Claudie Pierlot shoes, a Pinko handbag and a silver knife.
Yesterday Sikorska admitted attempted theft when she appeared at Westminster magistrates court.
The theft happened on July 5, days after Sikorska posted on Facebook that she had just finished studying economics at a college in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
Bright
She is now enrolled on a business management and economics course at the University of Westminster.
She also works as a business development manager for drinks bottle manufacturers Aquatiser, as well as being a model and actress.
Sikorska faced a maximum penalty of six months in jail or an unlimited fine over the crime.
But letting her off with a conditional discharge for 12 months, Westminster magistrate Grant McCrostie said: “You are a newcomer to this country, you are a student with a place at university.
“You are obviously a woman of considerable talents, you are obviously intelligent.
“Taking goods from any store, including Harrods is wrong. Your future has been put at risk by these actions.
“Because of the fact that you pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and you do have a potentially bright future, we will deal with this more leniently than we should have. It will be a conditional discharge for a period of 12 months.”
Explaining the sentence, Mr McCrostie told Sikorska that if she stays out of trouble for that period she will not face any further punishment.
He added: “You have been given another opportunity. Do not abuse the opportunity we have given you, stay out of trouble.”
A relieved Sikorska replied: “Thank you so much.”
Sikorska was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. However yesterday critics criticised the lenient sentence.
Ukip MEP Gerard Batten said: “It’s another example of our crazy legal system.
“Being a newcomer to this country does not mean you should be more lenient, it should be the opposite.
“It’s not as if she was shoplifting for a loaf of bread because she’s starving.”
Others lashed out on website forums. One critic wrote: “What does this say about the system? That if you are a female offender young and beautiful you can walk away.”
As well as being a model, actor, business development manager and student, Sikorska said on her Facebook page how she works as an interpreter and previously studied psychology at the University of Warsaw.