by Helen Fairley

A female window cleaner who befriended elderly people to steal money from them has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Valerie Newing, 47, who is currently on remand in prison, but who lived previously in Bell Road in Maidstone, pleaded guilty burglary and attempted burglary when she appeared at Maidstone Crown Court.

It was heard she distracted her clients by, for example, asking them to get her a glass of water before stealing money from their purses.

In one case, Newing targeted an 88 year old lady, befriending her and regularly visiting her home. She abused the trust she gained by stealing the woman's money and her handbag. As the offender became more desperate, it was heard she attempted to force her way into the house using hedgeloppers to break the chain on the front door.

She was finally caught when the elderly lady was hospitalised and a neighbour spotted Newing trying to force her way in to the back window of the empty house. Newing left DNA on the rear window linking her to the scene of the crime.

PC Tracy Evans of the Tactical Crime Investigation Department at Maidstone said: “Newing’s despicable thefts preyed on the elderly and the vulnerable, seeking out easy targets to steal from. I am delighted with today’s result which will hopefully bring a sense of closure to the victims and their families in the knowledge that she is now behind bars.”

After pleading guilty to burglary, Newing asked for a further two crimes to be taken into consideration admitting she had been to the 88 year old victims house to steal money on previous occasions.