Woman jailed for stealing from vulnerable pensioners

Paula Magee.

A Middleton woman who stole money from vulnerable pensioners in Oldham has been sentenced to 32 months in prison at Minshull Street Crown Court.

Paula Magee, aged 35, of Hopwood Court, pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary and three counts of fraud by false representation.

She also had 32 other offences, 15 burglaries and 17 deceptions, taken into consideration.

Magee would call at the homes of the victims and in many cases would tell them she was collecting for the Christies Cancer Charity.

Once inside, she would take money from them pretending it was for the charity, or steal cash while they were out of the room.

Police Constable Stewart Lindsay from the Volume Crime Team in Oldham said: "Magee has preyed on vulnerable people for far too long and I am pleased she will now be punished for her cowardly and cruel crimes.

"The victims were left traumatised and upset that they had been fooled by her convincing façade and even where only small amounts of cash was taken, the effect of her actions should not be underestimated.

"I cannot stress enough the importance of residents making sure they ask people who call at their houses for identification. Even if they look convincing, they should always have ID if they claim to be from a company and a genuine caller will not mind you asking to see it.

"GMP remains committed to targeting prolific burglars like Magee in order to make people of Greater Manchester safer."