A WOMAN who burgled a vulnerable 80-year-old grandmother as she brought shopping into her home has been jailed.

Rebecca Maund, 29, took the woman’s bus pass, bank card and purse containing £21 as she went to answer the phone in her living room, Newport Crown Court heard.

Twenty minutes later, she targeted her neighbour as she waited for an ambulance to go to hospital.

Maund told her second victim she could cut her grass for charity for £3.

The job was done but she did not pass on the money to charity and pocketed the money, prosecutor David Pugh told the court.

The victim was left so upset by the incident she had a sleepless night, the court heard.

Both women have looked at improving security in their homes as a result, Mr Pugh said.

Maund pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and one count of fraud by false representation in Ystrad Deri, Dukestown, Tredegar, on May 14.

Maund, of Waundeg, Nantybwch, Tredegar, was also in breach of a conditional discharge for two thefts from shops in Tredegar.

She had stolen a £69 toothbrush from Boots on October 29 and an £18 toilet gift set from Home Bargains on December 14.

On Friday, Maund received eight months’ custody for the burglary and four months for the fraud to run concurrently, plus one month for the breach of the conditional discharge, totalling nine months.

The first victim was described as a “vulnerable” woman in court.

Newport Judge Patrick Curran, QC, said: “It was the burglary of a dwelling, the home of a lady in her eighties and you stole £21 cash from her.

“She was present at the time. The court must do what it can to protect vulnerable victims in their own homes from activities of people like yourself.”

Aled Watkins, for the defence, told the court her client had been under the influence of drink and drugs at the time of the offences.

He added in mitigation that she had suffered from anxiety and depression and had been a victim of domestic violence.

Maund will have to serve about half her sentence in custody before she is released.