Woman jailed for conning elderly victims and groping widower

A woman who conned five pensioners out of thousands of pounds has been jailed for three years.

Michelle Taylor, 31, targeted lone pensioners in Middlesbrough. She took advantage of both their frailty and the fact they lived alone, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Taylor stole £20,000 from an 80-year-old man's bank account over nine months. Between 2014 and 2015 she repeatedly called at his home and took money from him under false pretences.

One victim was groped as well as conned. Taylor tricked a widower into giving her £40 before groping him and making a suggestive comment.

Another widower had £40,000 taken from his account in September 2016.

The court also heard how Taylor took advantage of one victim's loneliness. Despite the victim knowing he was being duped he preferred it to being alone.

Taylor burgled the home of an 80-year-old man, who relied on a walking frame, before asking him if he wanted to "do stuff".

In a police interview Taylor described herself as a prostitute. She pleaded guilty to sexual assault, burglary, three thefts and two frauds.