TWO crack-addicted burglars who repeatedly targeted a 75-year-old woman – stealing cash from her home – have been jailed.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Ricky Stewart and Jennifer O’Neil gained the trust of the victim, a neighbour, and distracted her by discussing concerns relating to dog fouling in the street.

The defendants conspired to commit three burglaries at the home of the pensioner in Arlington Street, Stockton, over the course of the evening of August 22 this year.

In the first O’Neil called at the 75-year-old’s home and asked to discuss a letter she had received about dog fouling issues in the neighbourhood.

The pair left the property together to go to O’Neil’s home, but when the victim returned she discovered her front door had been opened and a £20 note was missing from above her fireplace, prosecutor Sue Jacobs said.

O’Neil visited again at 9pm asking to use her phone. This time she was accompanied by Stewart, who asked to use the toilet. When they left the woman again noticed a further £20 had gone missing.

O’Neil called a third time at 11.30pm. This time the woman was persuaded to leave her home after being told there was dog mess on her back doorstep. When she returned she saw Stewart emerging from her bathroom.

Mrs Jacobs said: “A further £5 was missing which had been hidden behind a photo above the fireplace.”

The pensioner alerted relatives who contacted police. Stewart and O’Neil later admitted three counts of burglary each.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said she had been tricked by the defendants and was scared it would happen again. She said: “Please don’t let these people bother me.”

Duncan McReddie, for 31-year-old Stewart, of Grays Street, Stockton, said he was embarrassed and disgusted by his behaviour.

He said: “He accepts there was a specific targeting of the premises because it was known there was additional cash not obtained in the first burglary.”

O’Neil, 27, of Cockerton Walk, Stockton, was described as a fragile and vulnerable person who was now drug free and no longer in a relationship with her co-defendant.

Recorder Simon Phillips said they had cynically and selfishly targeted a vulnerable elderly woman, seeking her attention to get her away from the premises in order to steal cash.

Stewart received 13 months jail and O’Neil a year in prison. The judge also ordered a restraining order be taken out until further notice so they cannot approach or communicate with the victim.