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Heathrow baggage handler plundered lost suitcase for £29k of jewellery including £3k diamond ring

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date11 April 2024
Publication titleMyLondon (England)
The victim, Sandhya Gunesh, and her partner had just landed after a holiday in Mauritius, and were feeling tired and ill, when they forgot to put their hand luggage on a trolley before leaving the airport. After realising their mistake, Ms Gunesh tracked her MacBook to the airport and made multiple trips to ask if their missing items had been handed in

But when Heathrow staff repeatedly told them the luggage was still missing, she called police who looked at CCTV which showed Sthankiya sneaking off with the suitcase. The 46-year-old was arrested at her home on Hatton Road in Wembley on January 24 where she claimed the jewellery was hers, and, having removed the suitcase tag, pretended the bag was hers too.

After a search of her home and work locker, which she directed police to, most of the items were found. But around £4,000 of items remain missing -including the £3,000 diamond ring, £500 in cash, and designer sunglasses. After admitting what she had done, Sthankiya told police she was 'going through a difficult time', prosecutor Ryan Evans told the court.

Defence counsel Jonathan Whitley said it was his client's job to notify security of missing items, so they could then trace and contact the owners. But, he argued, her responsibility was unlike that of a pension fund manager or similar role, as he called for medium culpability, which earns a lighter sentence.

Recorder Ian Stern KC immediately dismissed this, telling Mr Whitley: "She has direct responsibility for baggage. That's what she is there for. It could not be a higher breach of trust, could it" Mr Whitley was forced to concede the point, but compared her crime to a hotel worker stealing from a guest.

'A lady of integrity'

The...

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