A DUDLEY woman who received property stolen from her “brutal and abusive” ex-boyfriend after a raid on a neighbour’s flat has been ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid work in the community.

Judge Michael Dudley at Wolverhampton Crown Court said it was clear 23-year-old Stacey Foster was making a fresh start after the offence which was “committed against the background of a violent domestic relationship”.

And he told her: "I have no doubt you were inveigled into this by your partner. Since you have been away from him you have managed to find your feet again.”

Foster, a woman of previous good character, of Fairview, Churchill, admitted receiving stolen hair curlers and make-up but the Judge said he was confident she would not be in trouble again with police.

The court heard her ex-partner was living in the same block of flats as the victim and he forced a door to gain access to her home in Hallchurch Road, Holly Hall.

She was arrested after police inquiries and told officers she had items taken from the flat but strongly denied any involvement in the burglary.

The court was told the victim had been left extremely upset by the raid on her home knowing it had been carried out by someone living in the same block of flats.