A woman who targeted a vulnerable man and burgled his home while he was in bed has walked free from court.

Kelly Appleton crept into the man’s home before searching underneath his bed to retrieve his hidden wallet and steal his bank card.

The 41-year-old then used the card at two cashpoints in Darlington to withdraw £60 and then £20, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, told the judge that the defendant had known her vulnerable, adult victim for around 15 years before she burgled his home.

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He said: “He was in bed at home when he became aware of somebody in the front room of his property, saw the light was on, he looked and saw it was the defendant in the lounge.

“She was there without his knowledge or permission at that time. It appeared she may have had a key from a previous occasion.

“The victim kept his bank card in a wallet hidden under his bed and the defendant entered his bedroom, looked under his bed and found the wallet before removing the debit card.”

Mr Dryden said Appleton then left the property before using the bank card at a cashpoint on Neasham Road where she withdrew £60.

The defendant then used the card again at a cashpoint on Northgate Road where she withdrew another £20. He said the money and card have never been recovered.

Appleton, Easson Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to burglary and two counts of fraud after she used the stolen bank cards to withdraw cash on June 17 this year.

Christopher Bevan, in mitigation, said his client had stolen the card in a desperate bid to pay-off a drug debt.

He said: “Whilst it was out of desperation to pay off a drug debt, that was no excuse whatsoever for her behaviour.”

Recorder Nathan Adams sentenced Appleton to 12 months in custody, suspended for 18 months.

“Your actions were wholly unacceptable,” he said. “You used the money to pay off a drug debt.”

She was also ordered to take part in 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement programme.

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