STAFF at a Kendal jewellery shop were left open-mouthed as a woman customer they were helping fled with four Rolex watches worth almost £52,000.

Wiktoria Barkowiak, 24, who had already checked out the store’s merchandise during two previous visits, was pursued by shocked staff but she immediately jumped into a waiting “getaway car” and disappeared.

When she later appeared before magistrates in Barrow, the former architecture student pleaded guilty to stealing the watches – but blamed being put under pressure to get involved by her then boyfriend.

At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Gerard Rogerson outlined the defendant’s audacious shoplifting expedition – her first criminal offence in the UK.

The prosecutor outlined how just before 2pm on June 14, staff at the Banks Lyon jewellers in Market Place, Kendal, noticed the defendant as she came into the shop, recognising her from previous visits.

“She'd been into the shop half an hour earlier,” said Mr Rogerson.

“She had also been in the day before and spoke to a different member of staff.”  On June 14, the shop worker immediately helped the defendant, offering her a cup of coffee and responding to her request to look at a Rolex watch.

The worker talked to Barkowiak about the watch and – at her request – brought over a further three Rolex watches for her to inspect, along with paperwork that provided background information.

“She then picked up the watches and paperwork… and ran from the shop,” said Mr Rogerson. The shop assistant gave chase but within seconds Barkowiak had jumped into a waiting Nissan Micra which sped away. 

“Half an hour later, that vehicle was located by the police, being driven this time by Miss Barkowiak,” continued Mr Rogerson. She was not insured to drive the car and she initially gave police a false name.

The stolen watches – worth £51,600 – were never recovered.

In a prepared statement provided to the police, the defendant said that she had found herself in financial difficulty. She refused to comment further.

David Traynor, for Barkowiak, of Kingfisher Drive, Bury, said: “Something made her become involved in this very serious offence.” The background report appeared to show that it was the defendant’s partner who brought her into the offending.

“He was involved in driving away the vehicle on that day,” said Mr Traynor.  The man was currently serving a jail term for similar offending. Though she initially refused to get involved, he applied pressure over a number of months, said the barrister.

Mr Traynor argued that the offence was unsophisticated.

But as he passed sentence, Recorder Paul Hodgkinson disagreed. Describing the moments after the theft, the judge said: “So sophisticated was it, in fact, that there was a car waiting which you jumped into.”

The defendant also admitted driving while uninsured and obstructing a police officer. Recorder Hodgkinson said he was “just” persuaded to draw back from immediate custody. He imposed a 12 month jail term, suspended for 18 months.

Barkowiak must complete 80 hours of unpaid work and live under a three month 9pm to 6am curfew as punishment. The defendant was also given six penalty points for the no-insurance offence, making her liable to a six-month ban under the totting up procedure, added the judge.