Being wrongly accused of theft when they have no proof?

[jbhandford]

I was at a staff party where it had an open bar and so drinks were flowing.

 

I was rather intoxicated towards the end of the night and was sent home in a taxi.

 

I woke up the next day not knowing how I got home or what had happened in the last few hours of that night.

 

I also woke up with someones handbag on the floor next to my bed.

I went through it and found that it belonged to my colleague.

 

I took the bag back into work that morning and gave it back to her.

 

Apologising as I did not know how i become in possession of the bag.

She informs me that the some of her possessions were not in the bag.

(phone, ipod and bank card).

 

We spoke about where it could be and came to the conclusion it was stolen, but not sure when.

 

I also said that i will help pay for a new one as the possessions could have been lost whilst the i had the bag.

That day i was suspended from work with out reason.

 

I had a meeting 4 days later and was told that the police were involved and that the matter is now out of their(the companies) hands.

 

At this point I was under the conclusion that I was going to speak to the police to help the investigation.

 

However yesterday, the police came to my house, search my house and obviously found nothing as i didnt have the alleged possessions.

The police told me that i was arrested for thief.

 

I was questioned and then kept in a cell for hours before letting me go.

They said i should pay for the phone or it will not look good on me and she could press charges.

 

What i want to know is,

what can they charge me with?

 

I had the bag but am not sure how i became in possession of the bag.

The stolen possessions could have been stolen before the bag was on my person.

They basically have no proof of me stealing these possessions.

So on what grounds do they have to charge me with anything?

 

If someone could shed some light onto the situation that would be great.

The phone is a iPhone 4s so a new one would be 500 pounds,

the phone was also uninsured.

 

Any help would be grateful!

[assisted blonde]

well it would be up to the CPS to decide if you were going to be charged with theft not the owner of the bag and that will depend on a number of factors, such as is there a good chance of conviction, is it in the public interest etc.

Paying for the phone to my mind would be an admission of guilt so i wouldnt go down that route if it were me.

The fact that the phone was uninsured itself may not be a problem as it may be covered on the home owners home insurance.

Did you have a similkar bag? could you have picked it up bt mistake.

Have the cards been used?

have you been suspended from work?