Trickster preyed on pensioner victim in street and at home

Coraleena Hunter first preyed on the 85-year-old when she saw him on his way to collect his pension on March 24 in Leeds.

Carmel Pearson, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday Hunter, who had a record for similar offences, pretended to know him, which confused him.

She asked for some money but he told her he did not have any as he was on his way to the Post Office, although actually had 600 in cash in his wallet in his pocket which he was going to take later to the bank.

She said she would walk with him and watched as he put his pension of 367 in his inside pocket. In order to get rid of her he gave her 2 but she did not leave it there and continued to walk with him when he said he was going to call at his local health centre.

She only left him when he went into the health centre and it was then he realised she had stolen the wallet containing 600. Staff at the centre helped him and the police were called but she had disappeared.

Two days later, at around 8pm, he suddenly had a knock at his door and discovered it was Hunter who had discovered his address inside the wallet and claimed to be returning it and the cash after finding it dropped near the health centre.

Miss Pearson said hoping this was true the pensioner opened the door only for Hunter to barge past him.

She went straight into the kitchen and although she had the wallet he could see it was empty. When he tried to phone the police she pushed him away and asked for a glass of water which he gave her.

She then put her arms around him and he could feel her stealing another wallet from his back pocket which contained 140.

When he again tried to phone the police she pushed him across the kitchen and he only managed to stop himself falling by grabbing a unit. She again stopped him when he tried to get to the phone but eventually left, and got into a car waiting outside.

Her victim was shaken and distressed by his experience. Hunter was traced because she left her phone and a piece of paper behind which had her fingerprints on.

The court heard in 2006 she had been jailed at York Crown Court for six offences in which she targeted elderly and vulnerable people.

Warner Falk, representing Hunter, said her remorse was genuine and she wanted to apologise to her victim.

Hunter, 31 of no fixed address was jailed for five years by Judge Kerry Macgill after admitting theft and robbery.