Isle of Wight woman sentenced over stolen hot tub Facebook sale

Inset, the IW Law Courts.
Inset, the IW Law Courts.
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A NEWPORT woman who tried to sell a hot tub on Facebook the same day her cousin stole it from B&Q has been sentenced.

Rachel Hewitt, of Angelica Grove, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Friday (April 1). 

The 38-year-old previously admitted handling stolen goods, in Newport, on July 17, 2021. 

Prosecutor, Liz Miller, told the court Hewitt had advertised a hot tub for sale on Facebook, which had knowingly been stolen by her cousin, from B&Q, earlier that day. 

She said the hot tub was located at Hewitt's home address. 

Her cousin was sentenced at court for the theft. 

Hewitt had originally been given a conditional caution, to attend a drug support course, but failed to complete the requirement. 

Barry Arnett, defending, said Hewitt made no attempt to conceal evidence and made full admissions in police interview.

He said she advertised the sale on her own Facebook page and was not difficult to track down. 

The court heard Hewitt — a mother of three — had suffered with drug issues for almost 20 years. 

Mr Arnett said her two youngest children had been in foster care since 2019, and she was determined to get them back.

Hewitt was given a 12-month community order, to include a drug rehabilitation requirement and ten rehabilitation days. 

She was ordered to pay costs of £5 and a £95 surcharge.

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