Children in Need fraudsters jailed after stealing from pensioners
A mother and daughter who posed as charity to workers to steal from elderly people in 'organised distraction burglaries' have been locked up.
Vanessa Millard, 46, and her daughter Stacey Walsh, 25, stole cash and items from vulnerable pensioners living in Willenhall on three occasions last December.
Millard, who had previously admitted two charges of false representation when she appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court earlier this year, posed as a charity worker to get herself into the homes of her victims.
The court heard that Millard, who along with her daughter was addicted to heroin at the time, had targeted elderly people in an attempt to steal money to fund her habit.
Mr Nigel Stelling, prosecuting, said: "These were clearly organised distraction burglaries, aimed at vulnerable people."
During the first of the burglaries, she told an elderly man that she worked for the Children's Cancer League and used some personal ID to dupe him into believing she was genuine.
After being let inside, she took a £5 donation from him before leaving, only to return a few days later, claiming she had left something the first time.
Once inside again, she convinced the homeowner to leave their front door open as her daughter would be meeting her inside the house.
Walsh then entered the house and stole £20 from the victim's wallet.
Another occasion saw her take a donation under the guise of representing Children in Need from a man who had an ill grandson.
The third case saw Walsh target the home of another elderly man, who she pushed after he caught on to her and tried to lock her in the house.
Stephen Cadwaladr, defending for Millard, said: "My clients problems with drugs go back a long time but prior to this she had really cleaned herself up.
"However, in 2013, she had a difficult year, where five members of her family, including her mother and father, died.
"Her daughter had developed a drugs problem during a period of separation between the two and when she tried to connect with her daughter again while clean, she fell back into the trap of drinking and taking drugs.
Lee Masters, defending for Walsh, said: "While I don't in any way wish to push blame towards Stacey's mother, one can imagine the effect having a mother who is addicted to drugs would have on a young child growing up."
Judge James Burbidge QC said: "I have no other choice in this situation but to impose instant custodial sentences.
"Together you targeted vulnerable victims, who were distracted from your plans in their own homes.
"The individuals don't feel safe in their own home anymore and do not trust other people enough to let them in, that is the extent of what you have done.
"I hope that your time in prison gives you both a chance to dry out and clean up."
Millard pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and two counts of burglary and she was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
Walsh pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment.