A drug addicted mum befriended an elderly man, built his trust, then helped rob him at his home.

Kimberly Flaherty, 25, David Woodall, 38 and an unknown accomplice stormed Clement Turano’s Folkestone home and robbed £500 worth of cash and belongings.

On answering his front door at his home in St John's Street, the unidentified crook threw Mr Turano to the floor before he was threatened with a “tool” and ordered to hand over his ring.

A court heard Flaherty, a mum, became familiar with her victim in the lead up to the crime in July last year.

Around then, she also used a number of distraction techniques to persuade other victims to let her into their homes before burgling them.

Flaherty, of Clarence Street and Woodall, of Biggins Wood Road, Folkestone, were jailed for 37 months and 32 months respectively after pleading guilty to robbery on the day of their trial.

She waived her right to attend Canterbury Crown Court, and so Judge Mark Weekes sentenced in her absence.

Woodall was told the crime was a “mean and spiteful offence against a vulnerable man”, before his breathing became progressively laboured in the dock.

Judge Weekes continued: “Both you and she, no doubt, were heavily addicted to drugs at the time.

“I’m satisfied there was a degree of planning in this.

“Mr Turano was threatened with the use of a tool if he did not hand over his ring.”

The judge explained the trio attended Mr Turano’s home after conspiring in a car park.

“It seems that Miss Flaherty had formed a relationship with him in the weeks prior, then she and others attended under false pretences,” he added.

Mitigating for Flaherty, John Barker said the use of violence was “minimal.”

Jason Dunn-Shaw, for Woodall, said his client suffered mental health issues alongside a learning disability.

The court heard Woodall had a record of 16 relatively minor crimes.

But Flaherty, who has 22 offences for six occasions, was jailed for four years last summer after pleading guilty to four burglary charges, fraud, criminal damage and theft.

She used a significant number of distraction techniques, such as asking for water, ice, and a flannel, to gain entry into her victims' homes.

Speaking after sentencing, DC Beth Gumley said: "Flaherty and Woodall subjected their victim to a terrifying ordeal, taking advantage of his better nature.

"She had no plans to pay him back, instead she stole from him and left him frightened in his own home.

"The pair had one goal, to steal. They took no time to consider the impact on their victim and yet only an hour later feared for their own safety and called on the emergency services to help them.

"Thankfully they’ll now spend time in prison where they have the opportunity to reflect on their decisions and make better choices in the future."

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