Seven members of a gang of thieving Romanian immigrants who preyed on elderly and vulnerable shoppers at supermarkets have been jailed for a total of more than 16 years.

Working as a team, they watched victims in shops in Kent and Hertfordshire to obtain bank card PINs.

They followed the shoppers outside and conned victims into believing they had dropped a £5 or £10 note before stealing their bank cards when they checked their purses or wallets.

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Maidstone Crown Court heard the five men and two women, all from Essex, became involved in crime soon after entering the country last year.

“The nature of these offences were liable to only fuel the prejudice, which is an increasing feature, however regrettable, in certain sections of the community against those law-abiding citizens who come from your country" - Judge David Griffith-Jones QC

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC told them on Friday: “On any view this was organised, gang crime. The trauma inflicted on each victim extends beyond financial loss suffered.

“Many spoke of being scared, shaken and angry. For all this you collectively bear a heavy weight of responsibility. Each offence was heartless and mean spirited.”

The judge added: “The nature of these offences were liable to only fuel the prejudice, which is an increasing feature, however regrettable, in certain sections of the community against those law-abiding citizens who come from your country and other parts of Europe and elsewhere to this country to better themselves and work in gainful employment, providing a real service to the benefit of our community.”

Prosecutor Francesca Levett said the stolen cards were used to withdraw a total of more than £6,000 from cash machines.

The gang claimed victims at a Co-op in York Parade, Tonbridge, Aldi in Duncan Road, Gillingham, Sittingbourne, Folkestone and Hythe, Waitrose in Allington and Sevenoaks, Lidl in Hawkinge and Asda in Strood.

Miss Levett said an 81-year-old woman and her husband had £500 withdrawn from their account after they shopped at the Co-op in Tonbridge.

Derek Cox, 71, withdrew £30 from a cashpoint in Rainham High Street on March 27. The £5 trick was used and he put it in his wallet. He went to a nearby shop.

He was approached again and handed back the £5. He later discovered that several amounts totalling almost £400 had been withdrawn from his account.

An 83-year-old man was on his mobility scooter at a bank in Whitstable High Street when he withdrew £500 to pay a builder.

When he went to hand over the cash it had gone. CCTV showed the thieves had followed him from the bank and “bumped” into him in a shop.

Fanica Preda, 40, of Barking, Fabiola Preda, 29, of Romford, Adranache Tanca, 34, his wife Andrea, 26, Danut Carabulea, 48, Alin Gologan, 39, all of Dagenham, and Ilie Lazarescu, 33, of no fixed address, all admitted conspiracy to steal and to defraud.

Video: CCTV of the gang in action

Fanica Preda was sentenced to 37 months, Fabiloa Preda to 32 months, Andranache Tanca to 27 months, Andrea Tanca to 24 months, Carabulea to 25 months, Gologan to 27 months and Lazarescu to 24 months.

The court heard that Andrea Tanca gave birth alone on the floor of her cell.

The judge added: “I find it difficult to accept the feelings of remorse you have expressed are truly genuine, rather than a product of the circumstances in which you find yourselves.”