A DEAF woman preyed on elderly residents, including a 99-year-old war veteran with dementia, giving them handwritten notes pleading for money.

Sarah Woodward knocked on the doors of pensioners in Highercroft and Infirmary, Blackburn, claiming she had a new baby and needed to pay heating bills.

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She also promised to pay back one victim but never returned.

However, Preston Crown Court heard how the 37-year-old, who admitted three counts of fraud by false representation, did not have a baby and was in receipt of benefits.

Woodward had also been jailed for a similar offence in 2014 but in that instance she had attacked her victim.

At the time of the later offences the Lancashire Telegraph ran an appeal urging the woman responsible to hand herself in.

Prosecutor Jeremy Grout-Smith said when officers raided Woodward’s home in Leech Street, Blackburn they found a number of notes similar to the ones presented to the three victims.

Sentencing Woodward to eight months behind bars, Recorder Mukhtar Hussain said it was fortunate the three victims hadn’t refused her demands for money.

Judge Hussain said: “You have a lengthy record for offences served in the past.

“The last one being a robbery, which you were sentenced to 16 months for.

“The facts of the robbery were very similar to what you did on this occasion except that this time no force was used.

“You have clearly adopted a different method. But essentially you have learned no lessons from your previous incarceration.

“Not only did you pick an area where the elderly live, but this was a deliberately planned visit knowing that people were infirm by their age.

“It’s fortunate for you that on this occasion when you passed your notes these kind elderly people handed over some money.

“I dread to think what would have happened if they didn’t.”

The court heard Woodward carried out the first con at around 9.30pm on February 25. She knocked on the door and window of 81-year-old Lillian Kay, who opened her door with the chain on.

Woodward, who Mrs Kay did not recognise, then passed her a note reading ‘Please can you lend me ‘til Friday for some Tampax’.

Mr Grout-Smith said: “Mrs Kay informed the defendant she shouldn’t be knocking on doors asking for money but took £2 out of her handbag and handed it to her.”

On March 1 the court heard Woodward knocked on the door of 99-year-old war veteran Jack Fell and asked for a piece of paper.

She then wrote, ‘Sorry about that, can you lend me £2 or £3 for towels till Friday? I will give you back please if you give me this, I will give you back all, I promise my love’.

Mr Fell didn’t have any change so gave Woodward a £20 note. She never returned with the cash.

Five days later Woodward knocked on the door of retired nurse Janet Leach who invited her in to her home ‘because she looked cold’.

Woodward then passed her a note saying she had a newborn baby and needed money for gas and electricity. All Mrs Leach could find was £2.98 and she told Woodward she didn’t need give it her back.

Mr Grout-Smith said: “When she had worked in the old Queens Park Hospital there had been a patient on the ward who was called Sarah and she had mental health difficulties. She recognised Woodward as being that woman and informed the police.

“Woodward told the police she receives benefits of £245 a fortnight. She does have children but they don’t live with her. That was the deception. She made no other admissions.”

Defending James Heyworth: “There’s no doubt there’s an unpleasant element to the offence when viewed in the context of Mrs Woodward’s previous convictions.

“There’s also a sadness to this sort of offending and, although not an insignificant amount to someone who is struggling or someone retired, the total of the fraud was £25. But for her previous convictions she wouldn’t be before the court.”

The court heard that Woodward had been in custody for 75 days and her disability had made her an ‘easy target’ for bullies.

Communicating via a sign language interpretor, Woodward told the judge: “I am not going to do this again. I promise. I can prove it to you. Prison is a terrible place for me. You have no idea the bullying I have experienced. I am telling the truth. I shan’t do this again.”

But Judge Hussain sentenced Woodward to eight months imprisonment to be served concurrently for each count of fraud.

Speaking after the sentencing, Mr Fells’s daughter Valerie Garratty, said: “I don’t wish jail on anyone but preying on old people is just wrong.

“My dad is now fine and I think he’s mostly forgot about it but I’m still worried similar things could happen again.

“I don’t let him have money in the house now and I’ve got all his bank cards at my house.

“It’s taken a bit of his independence away. Hopefully she will learn from this.

“We’re glad to put this behind us so all my dad’s family and friends can concentrate on celebrating his 100th birthday in October.”