Rawtenstall teenager's £3,500 theft from parents (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rawtenstall teenager's £3,500 theft from parents

9:10pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News

A TEENAGER behind three raids on her family home - including the theft of her father's treasured £3,500 gold Jaguar watch - walked free from court.

Burnley Crown Court heard how 19-year-old Jennice Lynch deliberately targeted her parents in a month-long campaign of spite, even though they had tried to help her and were looking after her two young children.

Lynch got into the property while they were out, stealing a gold and diamond bracelet from a bedroom, before help-ing someone else to carry out two raids.She claimed she would never have taken the watch because she knew how much it meant to her dad.

The victims, John and Ruth Lynch, told police they were disgusted with their daughter’s behaviour.

In astatement, Mr Lynch described his daughter as ‘uncaring and cold’ and said: “Most people would be ashamed of this behaviour, but not our daughter. It’s about time she got severely punished because she needs a wake-up call.”

Lynch, of Queen Street, Rawtenstall, had admitted three counts of burglary.

She received 22 months in a young offenders’ institution, suspended for two years, with two years supervision. She was also given an exclusion order, banning her from going within 200 metres of her parents’ home in Whitworth for 12 months.

Nick Dearing, defending Lynch, said: “These were very spiteful acts directed at her parents. This is a deeply troubled and traumatised young lady.”

He said at the age of 16, she got into a relationship with a man 20 years her senior, had two children and had suffered psychologically and physically.

She had been estranged from her family and had, on occasions, found herself homeless.

Mr Dearing said: "She has attempted suicide and she has hurt those closest to her for e perceived personal slights.”