Newport Hairdresser Jailed for Punching Woman and Stealing her Phone
A 37-year-old hairdresser from Newport has been sentenced to 34 weeks in prison for punching a woman and stealing her phone. Sinead Sandell, of Stow Hill, Newport, pleaded guilty to theft and assault at Newport Crown Court.
According to reports, the incident occurred on Sunday, March 30, when Sandell grabbed the black Nokia phone from Sade Hughes and hit her on the back of the head with a blow described as “a weak punch”. The prosecution, led by Matthew Comer, stated that Sandell’s actions put her in breach of a community order imposed for three shoplifting offences committed at Tesco Express on Cambrian Road in Newport city centre.
This is not Sandell’s first brush with the law. She has 36 previous convictions for 94 offences on her criminal record, including two previous prison sentences for robbery in 2015 and 2019, of 28 months and 43 months respectively. Her lawyer, Kathryn Lane, asked the court to impose a short prison sentence, stating that her client was making good progress in custody combating her drug problem.
In court, Miss Lane revealed that Sandell is a qualified hairdresser who is looking to work in that field in the future. She has been studying maths and English in jail and has a job as a wing cleaner. Miss Lane added that Sandell has sought support in custody and has found it, and is now drug free. “The defendant has a new lease of life and intends to engage with the Gwent Drug & Alcohol Service on her release,” she said.
The South Wales Argus reports that Judge Richard Kember stated Sandell had used “intimidation and force” to steal the £50 phone from Miss Hughes. Despite Miss Lane’s pleas for a short sentence, Sandell was sentenced to 34 weeks in prison, with no more than half of that sentence to be served in custody before being released in the community. She was also ordered to pay a statutory victim surcharge.
As reported by the South Wales Argus, Sandell’s barrister had told the court that the victim, Miss Hughes, had stated she wasn’t hurt by the punch, which she described as “weak”. The prosecution accepted Sandell’s guilty pleas to theft and assault, and she was subsequently sentenced. According to the South Wales Argus, the defendant has a history of offending, and it remains to be seen whether this sentence will help her to turn her life around.
The South Wales Argus can confirm that Sandell’s actions have resulted in serious consequences, not only for the victim but also for herself. The incident highlights the need for support services for those struggling with addiction and offending behaviour. As reported by the South Wales Argus, Sandell’s case is a stark reminder of the complexities of the justice system and the challenges faced by those trying to rehabilitate and turn their lives around.
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