Charity shop volunteer Linda Gorey, 52, jailed for spate of robberies in Folkestone
by Paul Hooper
A female thief – with a 25-year history of burglaries – has been
working at a charity shop, it has been revealed.
So when three houses in Folkestone were raided by Linda
Gorey, one of her victims feared she had targeted vulnerable people
through her voluntary work.
But a judge at Canterbury Crown Court heard there was no
evidence to support claims made by one of the women to police.
Gorey, 52, of Moat Farm Road, Folkestone, was sent to prison for
29 months today after admitting raiding houses within three days
last month.
Carole Block, 66, told how she was woken by "very large
thuds" in the early hours of the morning.
She got up to get a glass of water and in her lounge was
confronted by Gorey.
Prosecutor Jim Harvey said: "Ms Block was totally shocked, which
caused her to freeze as she didn't know if the person in her home
was armed with a weapon.
"She decided to speak and ask who the burglar was. She said
Gorey didn't seem at all bothered, but said: 'I've nowhere to stay,
nowhere to sleep tonight... can I stay here?'."
Gorey then began chatting to her victim while loo
"I have spent a lifetime helping people but I now feel violated. This woman is picking on vulnerable people..." – victim Carole Block
king around the property
pointing out items she liked – as Ms Block tried to get to a phone
to call for help.
Mr Harvey said Gorey, who had broken in after smashing a window,
then tried to go upstairs but was prevented by the brave
householder.
"Ms Block then became angry and asked Gorey to leave, telling
her if she didn’t she would call the police. She then started to
move away items Gorey had taken a liking to."
The householder then grabbed a pair of gloves and a mobile
phone, which the raider had put down – telling her she would not
get them back until she left.
But Gorey took a box of crystal jewellery saying: "Give them
back or you will never see these again" before Ms Block used a ruse
to get Gorey to go next door.
While she was there, the burglar - who had stolen a passport -
fled.
Ms Block would later tell police: "Since this burglary I
feel scared in my own home. The slightest noise and I jump. My
whole routine in life has changed.
"I can no longer go to bed early because I have to stay up to
ensure she doesn't come back, because she came back to my house
twice after the burglary. I now find myself scared and crying when
I relive what has happened.
"I have spent a lifetime helping people but I now feel violated.
This woman is picking on vulnerable people."
The next night Gorey went to the home of widow Denise Jenkins
and stole a handbag "containing her whole life" – including
important medicine – while she was asleep upstairs.
Later in January, police raided Gorey's home where they found
items stolen from the burglaries.
Widow Ms Jenkins said later: "Since this burglary I have been a
nervous wreck. I don't feel safe indoors anymore. I feel very
scared in my own home."
She said the loss of her tablets could have had serious
repercussions "and could have left me in real trouble".
Gorey, who has had burglary convictions since 1988, and was
jailed for 42 months in 2009. After her release, she began working
in a charity shop.
Oliver Kirk, defending, said: "She would like to apologise to
her victims."
28/02/13
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