Burglar rumbled after ‘Ha!’ was spotted written on dusty mirror

Raider turned up to trial in unnecessary wheelchair in bid to ‘abuse system’

- Sentinel Reporter

A BURGLAR turned up at court in a wheelchair and a full-face niqab as she tried to ‘abuse the system’.

Social worker Shakira Elsheikh broke into her neighbour’s home while they were overseas.

She even asked her gardener to unknowingly help her steal from the property.

But the 65-year-old, of of Butterton Lane, Newcastle, was caught on CCTV taking a light fitting worth £5,000 and eight rolls of wallpaper.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the property owner lived abroad and a friend was visiting the house on a weekly basis.

She began to notice things were missing or moved around.

Among the items missing was a sun lounger from the garden, while chairs had been moved onto the balcony, and the word ‘Ha!’ had been written on a dusty mirror.

Dylan Wagg, prosecuting, said: “The complainant knew the defendant as ‘Cher,’ as she lived next door.