A 44-YEAR-OLD woman targeted two elderly victims and a former friend as she carried out sneak thefts.

Blackburn magistrates heard Anita Talbot stole purses from two of her victims but was caught trying to break into the third home when the householder returned having asked her to leave his home shortly before.

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Talbot, of Brookhouse Lane, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of a purse, bank cards and cash from a house in Sunnybank Road, attempted burglary at a house in Blackburn Road, Darwen, and theft of a purse, cash and contents worth £60 from Karen Schofield.

She was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court for sentence.

A condition of bail is that she doesn’t enter any residential property except her own.

Enza Geldard, prosecuting, said the first victim was an 88-year-old man who knew Talbot because she lived nearby to him. She turned up at his house and asked to use the phone which he allowed her to do but then asked her to leave. He went out but returned shortly after and saw Talbot standing outside his kitchen window holding a large metal object which she was using to try to force the door.

Karen Schofield knew Talbot because they had been in hospital at the same time having a baby. She bumped into her after not seeing her for 10 years and Talbot suggested she would come round to her house for a coffee some time.

“She was surprised when the defendant turned up because she had given her a false address,” said Mrs Geldard.

They had a cup of tea and at some stage Talbot was alone in the kitchen. Shortly after she left without even saying goodbye and Mrs Schofield discovered her purse was missing.

The third victim was an 89-year-old woman who found Talbot knocking at her door saying she couldn’t raise an answer from next door. “The lady went to check on her neighbour and when she got back the defendant had gone and so had her purse,” said Mrs Geldard.

Helen Farnsworth, defending, said her client had been through the mill in recent years and felt she had hit rock bottom, adding: “In a way she is relieved everything is now out n the open,” said Mrs Farnsworth.“She is ashamed of what she has done but she also feels there is now some light at the end of the tunnel.”