Sex offender guilty of theft

A convicted sex offender has been sentenced to two weeks' jail for stealing £75 from a pensioner he befriended at a religious retreat.

John Cronin, 31, who had spent seven days in custody after, his arrest on 22 May, walked free from Warley Magistrates' Court, West Midlands on Friday.

Cronin, of Windygoull Crescent, Tranent, East Lothian, admitted stealing from 80-year-old Anna Browning's home in Barewood, West Midlands in November 2001.

Cronin was once jailed for life for a serious sexual assault on a Conservative Party worker, but his sentence was reduced to six years on appeal.

You have got an horrendous record of similar offences of theft and fraud

Rosemary Tyler
Chairman of the bench

As she passed sentence, Rosemary Tyler, the chairman of the bench, told Cronin: "It has to be said that this is very mean crime against someone you had become friendly with.

"In our opinion, it verges almost on a breach of trust and we take that very seriously.

"You have also got an horrendous record of similar offences of theft and fraud.

"We do take this matter seriously albeit the amount (you took) was small."

Geraldine Toal, defending, said Cronin was "deeply ashamed" about the theft, which was "committed on impulse".

He was also ordered to pay £75 compensation to Mrs Browning, now 82, which he agreed to do before leaving the court.