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08
Sept 2022
Harrogate woman fined for stealing miniature Dachshund
A woman has been given a conditional discharge for six months and fined £111 for stealing a miniature Dachshund from a home on Swan Road.
Maggie went missing from Laurie and Paul Smith’s home on Swan Road in August. A neighbour’s CCTV had captured images of a woman the Smiths believed snatched her from the front garden.
The couple began a frantic hunt for their missing pet and posted the CCTV images on social media.
A huge response led the couple to a house on Oakdale Avenue, half a mile from their home, where they believed Maggie was.
The Smiths called the police who recovered their dog which had been taken by 62-year-old Jonkal Messenger. An emotional reunion followed between Maggie and her owners.
Guilty plea
This morning, Messenger, who lives at Oakdale Rise in Harrogate, pleaded guilty to theft at Harrogate Magistrates Court.
She received a conditional discharge of 6 months and was ordered to pay court costs of £85 plus a victim's surcharge of £26.
Read more:
- Owners of missing dachshund Maggie joyful she’s back home
- Harrogate couple’s desperate hunt for dog-napped Dachshund
Mr Smith told the Stray Ferret afterwards that he was pleased Ms Messenger has been held accountable.
He said:
A month on from the ordeal, Mr Smith said he was glad the police took it seriously. He added:
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