AN ELDERLY householder thought she was doing a favour for two female callers at her home who claimed their car had broken down, a court heard yesterday.

Hayley Falconer and Leanne Duck knocked at the door of the 82-year-old woman, in Seaham, County Durham, at 9.30pm, on February 25.

Durham Crown Court heard that they told the pensioner that their car had broken down and they needed to use the telephone.

Jane Mitford, prosecuting, said: "The woman let them in, but, after they left a short while later, she noticed her handbag, containing £60, was missing.

"She said the burglary has left her feeling nervous in her own home, and sad because she now only answers the door if she knows someone is coming, which means no one can just pop in."

Miss Mitford said when the two women were later arrested Duck initially denied the matter, but subsequently asked for a second interview and confessed to what they had done.

Following her second interview, Falconer also made an admission, but both women tried to blame each other.

The court heard that Falconer has five previous burglary convictions, while Duck has offences of burglary and theft on her record.

Falconer, 21, of Dawdon Street, and 24-year-old Duck, of Melrose Crescent, both Seaham, each admitted burglary. Duck admitted a further four charges of theft.

Lawyers for the women said they were abusing heroin at the time and needed money to feed their drug habit, but have subsequently given it up.

Both were sentenced to 18-month community supervision orders, overseen by the Probation Service, on condition that they both take part in a 12-month drug rehabilitation programme to ensure their heroin abuse is behind them.

Recorder Ian Atherton said Falconer had already spent 79 days in custody, since her arrest, which he said was the equivalent of a six-month custodial sentence.

He said that Duck deserved credit for requesting the second interview, during which she made her confession.

"It's something I've not seen before," said Recorder Atherton, who added that both women should regard the sentence as "a chance" to put their offending behind them.