A thief has been condemned as “utterly despicable” for stealing hundreds of pounds from a vulnerable pensioner.
Elizabeth Burnett ingratiated herself with her victim, who suffered from dementia, by helping her cross the road while at the same time slipping the elderly lady”s bank card from her purse.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how staff at the Post Office on Dunkeld Road had noticed Burnett’s apparently kind act and had thought no more of it until the theft was discovered.
After getting hold of the woman”s card and PIN code, which had been written on a piece of paper, Burnett went on a shopping spree, buying items worth £800 in total.
Although several of these items were recovered, depute fiscal Robbie Brown told the court many of these were of “no use” to the 35-year-old”s elderly victim.
He also explained that because the PIN had been left with the card there was no certainty that the bank would reimburse the money.
Burnett, of Crieff Road, Perth, admitted that between November 1 and December 21, last year, she stole a bank card and a piece of paper at a house in Muirton.
She also admitted that between December 22 and 23 last year, she formed a fraudulent scheme to obtain goods by using the stolen card to buy items totalling £800 from River Island, Game and Vodafone in the St John”s Centre, and Primark, High Street.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis described the offence as “utterly despicable” and ordered Burnett to complete 200 hours of community service, as well as pay her victim compensation of £300.