Kelly Dalling was sentenced to three years and four months at Swansea Crown Court
Comments (2)
A WOMAN who took advantage of a couple in their 70s she knew, asking if she could use their toilet then stealing cash and jewellery from bedrooms, has been jailed.
Kelly Dalling had also visited the victims' house the day before the burglary when she had asked them for money for her children — which they had given her.
Swansea Crown Court heard that 33-year-old Dalling has convictions for similar distraction-type burglaries — including against her own grandmother.
Brian Simpson, prosecuting, said Dalling went to the couple's house in Townhill on the morning of June 23 and was let in but was told they didn't want visitors that day — as she was leaving she asked for change for a bus fare, a request that was refused.
The court heard Dalling returned later that day and asked if she could use the toilet — she was allowed in and went upstairs to use the loo, but later that day the victims' found jewellery and a mug of change had gone from two bedrooms.
Dalling was arrested three days later, and in her interview began to cry, telling officers she had sold the jewellery and used the cash to buy cocaine and legal highs. The court heard the jewellery has not been recovered.
Dalling, of Portmead Avenue, Blaenymaes, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to burglary when she appeared in court via videolink for sentencing.
The court heard on the day before the burglary she had gone to the victims' house and asked them for money — they had given her £20.
Dalling has 13 convictions for 31 offences, some 16 of which are for theft and dishonesty matters. She also has convictions for two previous burglaries — including one at her grandmother's house and one from July 2014 when she had asked the victims for a drink and then stolen cash from a downstairs bedroom while they were distracted in the kitchen.
She was out of prison on licence for the 2014 burglary when she targeted the Townhill couple, and has since been recalled to custody.
Andrew Evans, for Dalling, said his client wanted to stay free from drugs and the "emotional and physical crutch" they provided to her.
Judge Paul Thomas QC said Dalling knew the ages of the victims and that one of them was in ill-health, and that she had targeted them.
He told her: "This was a quite despicable offence — you took advantage of elderly victims, people who had in the past been kind and generous to you."
The judge sentenced Dalling to three years and four months.
Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/woman-targeted-couple-in-their-70s-in-despicable-distraction-burglary/story-29621370-detail/story.html#ixzz4HQpNNDpN
Follow us: @SWEveningPost on Twitter | SWEveningPost on Facebook
Read more at http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/woman-targeted-couple-in-their-70s-in-despicable-distraction-burglary/story-29621370-detail/story.html#l9vpu7IXUSG604ci.99
No comments:
Post a Comment