Margaret Johnson, the notorious 'Pickpocket Queen of Birmingham', is set to be released from prison after a psychiatrist identified that her prolific criminal career was driven by untreated mental health issues. The 49-year-old mother, who has committed over 200 offences, has been behind bars for more than a year.
Background of the 'One-Woman Crimewave'
Johnson earned her infamous nickname for stealing directly from people, but her latest spree involved four shoplifting incidents and a burglary. West Midlands Police have described her as a 'callous villain' and a 'one-woman crimewave with no conscience'. She once stole a pensioner's handbag containing the glass eye of her late son, who had died decades earlier in a car crash.
Psychiatric Findings
At Birmingham Crown Court on May 27, a psychiatrist revealed that Johnson's offending was linked to a long period of 'untreated mental illness and her wish to get money to buy drugs'. The court heard she has been diagnosed with recurrent depressive disorder, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and prolonged grief disorder following the loss of a child. The psychiatrist stated that these disorders 'directly impair her emotional regularity, stress tolerance, cognitive flexibility and behavioural imposition'.
Court Decision
Recorder Anthony Warner acknowledged Johnson's 'dreadful' record but decided against a minimum three-year sentence due to 'exceptional circumstances'. Instead, he imposed a two-year community order with up to 30 days of rehabilitation activity. Johnson will be released from HMP Foston Hall in Derbyshire once accommodation is arranged by housing authorities.
Conditions for Release
The judge emphasized that cooperation with probation is essential. 'The secret to success in your case is cooperation with and keeping in touch with probation,' Recorder Warner said. Johnson will also receive support from NHS community mental health services, as recommended by the psychiatrist. The court was told that stable accommodation and coordinated care could provide a 'realistic prospect of rehabilitation'.
Reactions and Concerns
Johnson's release may alarm some, given her history of targeting the elderly and vulnerable. She once famously flipped a middle finger to a police officer and goaded 'I'll be back' as she was led to court cells. However, the psychiatrist believes that with appropriate support, she can stay on the straight and narrow.
Johnson's criminal record includes 64 previous convictions for 204 offences, with 135 for theft or similar. Her latest offences occurred between December 2024 and May 2025, including stealing a charity box from Chaiiwalla in Alum Rock and items from B&M, Iceland, and Tesco. She also burgled a house in multiple occupation on February 14, 2025, stealing cigarettes and £10.
Personal History
Born in County Wexford, Ireland, Johnson was married for 15 years to an abusive husband. She has several children with whom she has had no contact for a long time. Previous assessments indicated unstable personality disorder and suspected schizophrenia, but she did not take medication and misused drugs instead.
The probation service had ruled out drug rehabilitation or mental health treatment requirements because she did not meet the criteria. However, the recent psychiatric report led to a different approach. Recorder Warner confirmed that Johnson now has paperwork obligating housing authorities to find her accommodation, after which she can register with a GP and access NHS mental health support.
