Going to court waiting for sentence ..

[Ladieunlucky]

Some back story and please don’t judge as I have already done this to myself. I understand my actions.

Over a period in 2023 I stole money from work place in cash. They have said 36k. I do not remember taking this amount, as I did not keep count, it was not pre meditated and I have nothing to show for it. This was during several manic periods which I went on to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder in March 2024. After coming out of a episode in December 23 I took myself to the police station and admitted what I had done, which I believed at the time was 5k. I then left my job. My position was not aware of this prior. I worked as manager so after being charged in April, it was called fraud under false representation. During this period I am not sure how I am alive, I have lost everything. Reputation, job, friends and I felt like with my diagnosis there was no point of return. I attended magistrates court in July to which it was suspended to do a further psychiatric assessment and to be sent to crown court. I pleaded guilty at the police station when handing myself in.

Moving forward to now I am due to go to crown court next Friday. I have had a psychiatric assessment and awaiting the probation meeting. My solicitor things custodial sentence is most definit, but there at mitigating factors that might make it suspended. I have a 15 year old child from previous marriage, who I’ve been honest with and tried to show resilience and show how . I pleaded guilty, handed myself in, co operated the whole time, have a diagnosed mental illness. I know this is no excuse but during my manic periods I have no memory or recognition of what I did at the time. I’m impulsive and take on risky behaviours. I have a past history of abuse and sucidal attempts. One of which was June 23 when I had come out of one manic period and realised what I done but couldn’t put it right. This is my first offence, I haven’t done anything like this before. I am trying to turn my life around. I have character references from my child’s father, previous employees.

I am fully prepared to face jail time, I understand this may be my fate and I deserve this. I have faced hell all my life and I believe that I have broken habits by admitting guilt. I have wrote goodbye letters and put money aside from what I could do for my daughter.

I would like genuine advice, and opinions. Thank you x

Not sure there's advice to give - your probation pre-sentence report will be critical though.

Genuine remorse, plans on how to maintain your MH by cooperating fully with psychiatric services, taking medication, participating in any community MH care ie appointments and courses, plans on how to repay what was stolen will all go a long way towards showing how you'll prevent this happening again.

In terms of custodial sentence, a good discussion with Probation about how this would affect your access to proper MH care and support under your current team and medication regime (if you have one), potential impact on your MH and impact on your child will be important too.

Probation can only make recommendations to the court - a Judge can ignore their reports, however it's unlikely they will do that especially where supported by psychological assessments.

I hope you are treated leniently. A massive amount of crime is committed due to either desperation or mental health issues and if prison was rehabilitative rather than pure punishment then it may benefit you.

We have a very poor way of dealing with criminality in this country which leads to the constant reoffending by a small section of the prison population, who get very little support and are then left frequently jobless/homeless and with a society that seems unable to forgive.

After the offence it sounds like you have dealt with this as well as you could have done - I hope your advocate tries to get that across as strenuously as possible.

I think you must expect a custodial sentence but I would be very surprised if that was not suspended given the starting point after credit for guilty plea will be at 2 years, and you have significant further mitigation. It will be absolutely key that you engage with mh services and treatment going forward so that your illness does not cause you to breach that suspension.
I wish you all the best.