Mother (31) is jailed after targetting small Highland shops for distraction thefts
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A mother who was part of a gang which travelled to the Highlands to steal has been jailed.
A group of women travelled north to carry out a series of thefts, with some distracting shop staff while others helped themselves to high value goods.
Mother-of-two Mariora Pihodi (31), from Northampton, was jailed for 16 months.
At Inverness Sheriff Court, Sheriff Margaret Neilson told her: "This sort of targeted distraction thefts is a particular problem in this jurisdiction.
"People like you travel long distances and prey on small shopkeepers in small towns and villages, where people are often more trusting. Then you betray their trust.
"Given your appalling record and the number of previous prison sentences you have served, only a custodial sentence is appropriate."
Pihodi admitted stealing jewellery worth £2260 from Iain Marr Antiques in Beauly on July 26, 2019 and, a day later, stealing a gold Rolex watch valued at £7900 from Imray's Jewellers in Grantown on Spey.
Neither of the items has been recovered.
The court heard that the theft had a "devastating effect on Mr Marr's health" and he now suffers panic attacks.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir told the court that Pihodi had moved to Luton before she was arrested in August this year.
He said that she was acting with other women when they all entered Mr Marr's shop.
"He asked them to stop handling items however they continued to do so, arousing his suspicions," he said.
Mr Marr produced 10 rings which one woman tried on one by one while Pihodi and her accomplices wandered round the shop before leaving.
Mr Marr reviewed his CCTV aftrewards and noticed that several items were missing, including three watches, three pendants, neck chains, two rings and a quantity of fobs.
The following day Pihodi and another woman went into Imray's and Pihodi asked to see two Rolex watches.
She produced £1160 in cash and while it was being counted they kicked up a fuss about the packaging to be used for wrapping and began to rewrap the items themselves.
During the confusion, the women walked out, taking one of the Rolex watches with them. A third accomplice was waiting outside and the trio disappeared before the theft was detected.
Defence solicitor Manus Tolland conceded his client was "no stranger to shoplifting" but usually stole smaller items.
"The background here is her ex-partner who was of a violent disposition," he said. "At his command, she joined in this group to travel to Scotland. She did not benefit and has been left carrying the can.
"But she had ample opportunity to leave and she chose not to do so. Her ex-partner now cannot be traced."
