A pregnant mother-of-two who targeted elderly and vulnerable people in a day-long theft spree was today starting a 20-month jail sentence.

Angela Grocutt, aged 29, struck at the homes of two pensioners in Wolverhampton and tried to steal from the house of another.

Grocutt threatened one of her elderly victims and even stole more than £180 from the postal account of her own sister. Prosecutor Mr John Evans told Wolverhampton Crown Court the burglaries took place on April 8.

Grocutt first targeted the house of a 66-year-old woman in Ettingshall at 6.20am, pretending to be from the management company of the woman’s house when she knocked on the door.

However, the woman refused to let her into her home and nothing was taken.

Just 10 minutes later, Grocutt visited the house of a 66-year-old man in the same area.

Mr Evans said she used the same story and was let inside, stealing a bracelet worth £500 from the owner.

Then, at 9am the same day, the pregnant crook targeted a 67-year-old man within a mile of her first two targets.

She showed the victim an identity card and made up a story that the home owner owed her brother money.

The man was threatened by Grocutt, of Willenhall Road, Wolverhampton, and she eventually left the property with about £80 and his wallet. Mr Evans told the court yesterday that Grocutt had also stolen £189 from the postal account of her own sister on March 22.

At the time she was on licence having received a community and drug rehabilitation order for stealing a purse from a woman’s bag as the victim shopped in the River Island store in Wolverhampton last July 19.

Mr John Perry, for Grocutt, who is due to give birth to her third child in August, conceded the offences were aggravated by the fact that the victims were elderly but that she was now committed to making sure she stayed drug free.

Grocutt admitted two thefts, two burglaries and an attempted burglary.

Judge Michael Dudley said there was “an element of desperation” in Grocutt’s offending.

He added: “This is made more serious because you targeted elderly people in secure accomodation.”