Stefka Gishanova, a 55-year-old Bulgarian national, was spared jail time for pickpocketing elderly individuals on London buses, a decision influenced by the UK's recent Sentencing Act. The act, which came into force on March 22, mandates that prison terms of 12 months or less are suspended.
Gishanova, who targeted vulnerable victims, was arrested at Stansted Airport attempting to board a flight to Cologne. During one offense in November 2023, she stole £1,900 from a pensioner who had withdrawn the cash for Christmas presents. In another incident in August 2025, she stole a mobile phone from a disabled pensioner. The court heard that Gishanova also stole £50 and a bus pass in December 2022.
Judge John Lodge described Gishanova as a "professional thief" who deliberately targeted the vulnerable. However, due to the Sentencing Act, her 12-month sentence for multiple offenses was suspended. The judge also noted that a potential two-year sentence had been reduced to 12 months under current sentencing guidelines, with six months deducted for her ill-health and lack of previous convictions, and another six for her guilty plea. Gishanova had been in custody since her arrest on July 22.
The judge warned Gishanova that she would face 12 months in custody if she reappeared in court within the next two years. The sentencing changes are intended to alleviate pressure on overcrowded prisons. This legal context has also drawn parallels to the potential early release of individuals convicted in the high-profile case of PC Andrew Harper.
Reports indicate that despite the legal changes aimed at freeing up prison space, some newer facilities, like HMP Millsike, remain under capacity due to staffing shortages. The £400 million Category C resettlement jail, with a capacity for approximately 1,500 inmates, is currently operating with around 1,100 due to difficulties in staffing.