Natalia Sikorska: 'Obviously intelligent' model let off after stealing £1,000 of designer goods from Harrods

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An "obviously intelligent" model and student will not face prison time after she was handed a conditional discharge for trying to steal allmost £1,000 worth of clothes from Harrods.

Natalia Sikorska was stopped on 5 July before she could leave the upmarket store with items including a Markus Lupfer jacket, a pair of Claudie Pierlot shoes and a Pinko handbag.

The total value of the goods was £959.59.

The 28-year-old avoided a custodial sentence after Westminster Magistrate Grant McCrostie, gave her a conditional discharge for 12 months after she pleaded guilty at "the earliest possible opportunity".

“You are a newcomer to this country, you are a student with a place at university,” he said, according to The Telegraph.

“You are obviously a woman of considerable talents, you are obviously intelligent.”

Under sentencing guidelines, thefts of items over £1,000 are considered "Category 1", while anything under that are considered under the less serious "Category 2".

The items taken by Sikorska were just £40.41 under the higher benchmark which may have incurred a more severe punishment.

Ms Sikorska been studying business management at the University of Westminster since 2015.

She also works as a business development manager for Aquatiser, a company producing fruit-infused water bottles, and has been a sales assistant for luxurious brands like Saint Laurent Paris, Globe Trotter, Hugo Boss and other brands.

Her Facebook profile states that she models with Elite London Models.

Ms Sikorska was ordered to pay £85 costs as well as a £20 victim surcharge.

"Taking goods from any store, including Harrods is wrong," the magistrate said.

He suggested she stay out of trouble, and warned: "Your future has been put at risk by these actions."