'The most evil person I have met in my life' - Drug addict jailed for stealing from 80-year-old stroke victim
An 'evil' woman who fed her drug habit by preying on an 80-year-old disabled stroke victim has been jailed for two years and eight months.
Amy Sutton escaped with a haul of irreplaceable jewellery after tricking her way into the woman's home in a warden controlled complex for the elderly and infirm in Dudley.
The shameless 29-year-old, who had met the victim before, knew that the front door to the flat was left unlocked to allow carers access, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
The woman, who had suffered four strokes in ten years and had lost the use of both her left arm and leg, recognised Sutton and the pair started a conversation during which she revealed where her jewellery was hidden.
Mr Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said: "They had met before and the complainant was deliberately targeted.
"The defendant was invited into the property under a false pretence and was shown where the jewellery was kept. She was in the property for 40 minutes before asking to ring for a taxi having seen that the phone was next to the drawer which held the jewellery."
The victim quickly spotted what had happened but by then Sutton had left and taken four chains and a bangle with her.
The haul was worth £1,600 and she sold it for just half that amount before blowing the lot on cocaine and heroin, said Mr Kevin Jones, prosecuting.
But the stolen jewellery, which was not covered by insurance, was priceless to the disabled widow who had been given it by her late husband.
She told police afterwards: "I was preyed on. It was heartbreaking. I did not stop crying for two and a half days. That woman acted as if she was so sweet and charming when in reality she was the most evil person I have met in my life."
Mr Tim Talbot-Webb, defending, said: "She started taking heroin and that ruined her life. She is determined to deal with the addiction."
Sutton, from Shadwell Drive, Lower Gornal, who had a string of previous convictions, admitted the March 5 burglary and was locked up by Recorder Mark Rhind who told her: "Even you had not previously stooped to targeting elderly, vulnerable people. This is the kind of offence that even the criminal fraternity look down on.
"When she proudly showed you her jewellery you must have known the huge sentimental importance it held for her."
