'Friend' Using my Address for Bail - Am i Implicated?

[Joy5]

Have had a friend to stay for nearly 2 months, she left her husband & was homeless. Have noticed things going missing for a while, but they were only small things, and didn't think too much of it. I'm working & a mature study, so had deadlines etc for the past few weeks.

The friend got a flat last week, so been helping her to decorate before she moved in, was shocked by how much of my stuff was there, like mugs i'd been asking my sons to bring downstairs thinking they were in their bedrooms. I bought some DIY things at the beginning of the week saying i'd paint over the water stain on my kitchen ceiling from a leak, by thurs they'd gone too. To make the story shorter, i asked my friend to leave and for her key.

She text me to put her things in black sacks, so i started to do it. Only did one and i found bail papers and other letters. Seems my friend was in court early May for theft from a older relative of hers, shes back in court next month for sentencing. Apart from being totally shocked by this, i'd no idea, the bail papers say she has to live at my address. Except in the last few weeks shes only spent a couple of nights here.

Now i know about the bail conditions, should I report it and that shes not living here? If i don't, have i committed an offence? Have no idea about bail, or its implications, or if it means anything that my address has even been used in this way. Spent all day changing locks, and contacting banks just in case, and worrying about if i should do something, but not knowing what. Any advice would be appreciated.

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

As she's been stealing from you, I think you owe her nothing. It's her responsibility to apply to change her bail conditions. I would tell the police she's no longer welcome at your home. Otherwise you risk the police coming to look for her. If you're feeling kind, you can remind her that she's now in breach of her bail conditions, but as she'd never told you about it, I don't think she really deserves that.

[Joy5]

Thanks testing for replying, i hadn't thought of the police coming here.

Have changed the locks, and contacted my current account bank today, am totally out of my depth in knowing what else ,mto do.

From the papers i found, she didn't attend the first court appearance, so was arrested for non-show and taken to court. So theres a chance she won't attend the date for sentencing.

Last time i spoke to the police was the day my eldest son died when they came to my home, i get panic attacks if i see a paramedics uniform (& as i work in a library containing medical books i often see 6/7 of them en-masse), i'm upset at the thought of the police coming here again. I've never set foot in a police station, but of the two i think i'd choose going there myself, rather then worrying they will come here.

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

Telephone them on the non emergency number, explain that coming to the station would cause you anxiety.

[MatureUniStudentGraduated]

I am shocked you were not asked if you accepted your address being used as one for your "friends" bail address. I would report her as she has broken her bail conditions and the court will need to know where she is. I cannot see how, in any way, you could be "in trouble" as you were unaware that she had given your address as her bail address.

Uses the non emergency number and explain that you had no idea she was using your address in This way. You could also report the theft of your items as it seems the police will be able to recover those items easily from her new flat. Good luck!

[dashoflime]

She needs to speak to her solicitor and ask him to request a variation of the bail conditions since her address has changed.
Otherwise, I think you will have to inform the police that she's moved out.
Normally I'd advise you that you can simply inform the police she's moved if and when they come to the door looking for her. But since this would cause you distress, the situation is different.
Your not in any trouble by the way. Your "friend" gave the actual address she was living at when arrested, which is correct, and you knew nothing about it anyway! I'm sorry your "friend" put you in this situation

[Cheshireblue]

What a shame for you after you were kind enough to let her stay. I can't really offer any advice but just wanted to say I hope you get this sorted and your 'friend' faces the consequences of what she has done

[Joy5]

Thanks for the replies, finally got the courage to ring 101 today and ask their advice, not sure why i didn't do it in the first place, except i've such bad memories of my son's death, don't like anything that reminds me, get so upset and panicking.

Good news is, the nice policeman i spoke too, said i sounded like i just wanted to make sure the address was changed and not to take action, which is accurate, so been told to ring the solictors involved in the case and tell them its not the right address tomorrow, they will do the rest and inform the probation service. The solicitors name and address was on the bail papers i found.

As she missed her first court appearance, and had to be arrested to attend court, i'm still not sure she'll attend for sentencing, but at least they'll have her new address, long as she stays there, and won't come to my home looking for her. Know i probably should take action myself but am already in the family courts representing myself in the full hearing next month, i've enough to deal with without anything else. Have lost what i thought was a friend of many years, but if she can steal off elderly relatives i'm thinking how much did i know her anyway, & what have i got to lose. Could never allow her back into my home now. Thanks again.