A man and a woman that worked together to befriend vulnerable victims for their own gain have been jailed for a collective sentence spanning nearly ten years.

Nicola Clewes, and Gary Betts, both 46 and from Meir, admitted burglary and theft offences at an earlier hearing and were sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday 23 January.

Between February and April last year, the duo turned up at different addresses in Meir and targeted vulnerable people. They told one woman they were delivering post, eventually being allowed inside the victim's home. They ate food, helped themselves to drinks and took cash from the victim's purse before leaving.

Nicola Clewes and Gary Betts have both been jailed (Staffordshire Police).

They took household items and more cash from other victims, as well as medication.

When police found out about the thefts, they started immediate work to track the pair down and secure the evidence needed to charge them.

Clewes pleaded guilty to robbery and three counts of burglary. She was sentenced to six-and-a-half-years imprisonment.

Betts admitted two counts of burglary and was jailed for 40-months.

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