A SERBIAN couple who snatched handbags from mostly elderly and vulnerable victims in "professional" thieving jaunts in Burnley, were today both behind bars.

The pair, who were joined in one offence by a schoolboy, targeted a pensioner on a walking frame and a registered blind woman doing her shopping.

Another victim was a young local solicitor, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Heroin addicts Stevan Jovanovic, 35, and Sanela Osmanovic, 21, who now have a child together, born while they were both in custody, each had criminal records built up around England.

Jovanovic, who also committed a house raid, was jailed for 40 months.

Osmanovic, said by her counsel to have come to this country to escape the physical horrors of her home country but to have ended up on drugs instead, was sent down for two years. The defendants, both of Travis Street, Burnley, admitted four theft charges. Jovanovic also pleaded guilty to house burglary.

A 13-year-old, who a judge ordered should not be named, admitted theft.

He was given an 18-hour reparation order during which he will meet his 74-year-old victim or her daughter and is expected to tell her he is sorry.

Sentencing, Judge Raymond Bennett told the couple, whose exploits had been captured on video, both had taken advantage of the victims.

He continued: "I only wish when you came to this country to stay you wanted to be law abiding. Neither of you have, and both of you have had warning shots across your bows."

David Pickup, prosecuting, said the 74-year-old was picked on as she shopped in Asda last December. She was targeted as vulnerable and all three defendants took part in a "professional operation".

The pensioner was distracted, surrounded and kept watch on before Osmanovic stole her bag, taking her purse and a necklace she had just bought.

On Christmas Eve, Jovanovic and Osmanovic hit on a registered blind woman shopping in Sainsbury's. Jovanovic claimed he was diabetic and asked her advice on a pudding. The victim felt uneasy as the couple were very close to her.

She went to the pharmacy and returned to her trolley to find her bag containing cash and bank cards had been stolen.

Mr Pickup said at 1am on December 30, Jovanovic was stopped after a short chase when he was spotted driving erratically in Colne Road.

Police found jewellery worth £1,457, taken from a house in Lower Manor Lane, Burnley, and stolen hauls were discovered at his home.

Footwear marks had been left at the burgled house and they matched the imprint of the defendant's trainers.

Mr Pickup said the older defendants had criminal records from Birmingham, Luton, Stratford and Manchester.

Osmanovic had been recommended for detention, but the order had been varied on appeal and had been quashed.

John Woodward, for Jovanovic, said the defendant knew the court would take a dim view of the offences. He had had a difficult life and was genuinely sorry for what he had done.

For Osmanovic, Mark Stuart said about four or five years ago, she had escaped persecution and death with her family but she had replaced the persecution with a drug addiction.