A 'heartless' woman who prayed on the vulnerability of a man suffering with dementia has been jailed.
Charlene Carey betrayed the man's trust by tricking her way into his home on several occasions in a week - where she stole valuable items, Teesside Live reports.
While she was inside the man's property, 33-year-old Carey stole cash, a bank card, digital camera, lenses and a tripod.
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Carey is said to have used her victim's vulnerability to integrate herself into his life under the guise of needing help and support, according to detectives on the case.
A police investigation into the stolen items led to Carey, of Brougham Street, Darlington, being charged with burglary and theft.
The cruel thief admitted the offences at Teesside Crown Court where she was subsequently jailed for four years.
Detective Sergeant Liam Robertson, from Darlington Volume Crime Team, said: “The defendant in this case has taken advantage of the victim’s vulnerability to ingratiate herself into his life under the guise of needing help and support.
“She has betrayed his trust and taken his property which is clearly unacceptable and cannot go unpunished.
“The officers of the volume crime team worked determinedly to secure this custodial sentence which I hope goes someway to protect further vulnerable people from harm and I am proud of the result achieved.”
