'Lifestyle' fraudster who stole from victims she befriended in pubs and restaurants in York and Thirsk is jailed

A 'full-time' thief whose modus operandi was striking up a friendly conversation with women before stealing their possessions has been sent to prison.

Michelle Dillon approached her victims in pubs and restaurants and 'befriended' them before stealing from them.

The 52-year-old, of no fixed address, told North Yorkshire Police officers that she 'only stole what people could afford to lose'.

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Police believe there are numerous other victims who were targeted by Dillon and have urged them to come forward.

Michelle Dillon, 52Michelle Dillon, 52
Michelle Dillon, 52

Her conviction and sentencing at York Magistrates Court this week was in relation to three counts of theft and five of fraud by false representation at the beginning of December.

She has been jailed for 48 weeks,

On December 4, Dillon approached a woman waiting in a restaurant in York on the premise of asking about the food and upon leaving the restaurant, the woman realised her purse had been stolen from her handbag.

The next day, Dillon struck up a conversation with a woman in a pub in Thirsk before attempting to steal her purse and then taking her Filofax. The victim’s son-in-law detained Dillon and called the police.

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Officers searched Dillon’s bag and located the Filofax as well as belongings stolen from the woman in York the previous day and a number of other bank cards, store cards and identification cards under a range of names.

Dillon was arrested and later charged with theft and fraud by false representation.

Under interview, Dillon claimed to only ever steal from people she had befriended and whom she knew would not be left penniless if she stole from them.

She pleaded guilty to all offences.

Acting Detective Sergeant, Ian Phillips said: ​“The stand-out factor in this case was the sheer ‘full-time’ nature of the offender’s criminal activity. This was her lifestyle, repeatedly and callously targeting vulnerable victims, befriending them, gaining their confidence, and finally abusing their trust by stealing from them.

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“Dillon claimed that she selected victims carefully who she deemed could afford to lose a little, and that she only ever took a percentage of what she knew to be in their possession. She saw herself in some respects as an honest thief with genuine principles, something which is both cold and calculating.”

If you think you may have been a victim of Michelle Dillon please call 101 quoting case reference number 12200221241.