Woman jailed for stealing money from elderly bank customers in North Yorkshire

A woman has been jailed for stealing money from elderly bank customers in North Yorkshire, after a nationwide investigation.

Ramona Ilie pleaded guilty to theft and fraud by false representation at York Crown Court, and was sentenced to eight months in prison.

Ilie, aged 29, of London Road, Glasgow, targeted two North Yorkshire victims, aged 78 and 89, in Bedale and Northallerton in August 2016.

Working with an unknown male, the offenders observed bank customers type their PINs into cash machines, and then obtained their bank cards – on one occasion using a distraction technique to trick their victim. They then used the stolen cards in Bedale and Northallerton, and subsequently in Richmond, Darlington and Thornaby, Cleveland.