A woman has been imprisoned and another given a community order after they stole from an 82-year-old man while visiting his home.

Sarah Jupp, 37, of Jasmine Court in Colney Heath, appeared in St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (2) for sentencing while her co-defendant, Michelle Taylor, 45, of Shottfield Close in Sandridge, appeared on Monday (8).

Taylor, who was described on Tuesday (2) as a ‘prolific alcoholic’, had to appear at a later date due to the fact she was ‘not in a fit state’ to appear in front of the Magistrates on August 2.

The court appearance came after she vowed that she had turned her life around after ‘finding God’ back in 2013.

Jupp was described by Magistrate Kevin Shults as ‘deplorable’ after they visited the man, with whom Taylor was acquainted, at his home in St Albans and stole £100 in cash.

On Monday (8) the court heard that Taylor asked the man for money and lied to him, saying that bailiffs were at her home and also that Jupp was her sister, but he denied the request.

Jupp then asked for a glass of whisky, and when she drank it, began to pretend to retch so that the man would fetch her something to help from the kitchen.

Once he left the room, accompanied by Taylor, Jupp took money from his wallet.

But what she didn’t realise was that CCTV had been installed in the man’s home due to the fact he had been a victim of distraction burglary before.

Jupp’s probation officer told the court of Jupp’s troubled past and that she was ‘under the influence’ when she visited the home.

She said that the pair had met at a food bank and went from there to the man’s house.

She added “She can’t recall what actually happened when she was there.

“She admitted and said she feels sorry and showed remorse.”

Mr Tim Scarisbrick, defending Taylor, told the court that Taylor knew the man and had previously visited him and brought him shopping, sometimes twice a week.

He added that the man had previously given Taylor money ‘with no expectation of getting it back’.

The pair had both been found guilty at an earlier hearing.

Jupp was handed a 12 month community order and ordered to pay court costs and compensation.

Sentencing her, Mr Shults said: “This is a vulnerable man in his 80s. The action you took on that day is deplorable quite frankly.”

Taylor was sent to prison for 12 weeks for the offence, and for another three weeks to be served concurrently for a separate offence.

Magistrate Mr P Choudhury said: “This offence is so serious that it can be justified.”