Woman pleads guilty to breaking into park café and ice cream van – Rickmansworth

A woman has pleaded guilty to breaking into a café and damaging an ice cream van after police were called to the Aquadrome this weekend.

Lucy Elliot, aged 47, of Longcroft Road, Maple Cross, appeared at Hatfield Remand Court yesterday (Monday 21 August) charged with burglary and criminal damage.

She pleaded guilty to both charges and was released on conditional bail ahead of sentencing, which has been scheduled for Friday 29 September.

The charges come after police were called at 12.20am on Sunday 20 August to reports of a break in at The Café in the Park at Rickmansworth Aquadrome.

Officers immediately attended and discovered Elliot inside the café, after she broke in via a window. An ice cream van belonging to the café, which was parked nearby, was also found to have damage to its serving hatch window.

Detective Sergeant Darren Machin, from the Three Rivers Local Crime Unit, said: “We’re aware that this incident attracted some comments on social media over the weekend as it affected a local business, so we’re pleased to share this outcome with the community.

“The person who called us did exactly the right thing by dialling 999, as it allowed officers to attend within a matter of minutes and arrest Elliot on the scene. It’s an important message: if you witness a crime in progress, always dial 999.”

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