A female thief – with a 25-year history of burglaries – has been working at a charity shop, it has been revealed.

So when three houses in Folkestone were raided by Linda Gorey, one of her victims feared she had targeted vulnerable people through her voluntary work.

But a judge at Canterbury Crown Court heard there was no evidence to support claims made by one of the women to police.

Gorey, 52, of Moat Farm Road, Folkestone, was sent to prison for 29 months today after admitting raiding houses within three days last month.

Carole Block, 66, told how she was woken by "very large thuds" in the early hours of the morning.

She got up to get a glass of water and in her lounge was confronted by Gorey.

Prosecutor Jim Harvey said: "Ms Block was totally shocked, which caused her to freeze as she didn't know if the person in her home was armed with a weapon.

"She decided to speak and ask who the burglar was. She said Gorey didn't seem at all bothered, but said: 'I've nowhere to stay, nowhere to sleep tonight... can I stay here?'."

Gorey then began chatting to her victim while loo king around the property pointing out items she liked – as Ms Block tried to get to a phone to call for help.

"i have spent a lifetime helping people but i now feel violated. this woman is picking on vulnerable people..." – victim carole block

Mr Harvey said Gorey, who had broken in after smashing a window, then tried to go upstairs but was prevented by the brave householder.

"Ms Block then became angry and asked Gorey to leave, telling her if she didn’t she would call the police. She then started to move away items Gorey had taken a liking to."

The householder then grabbed a pair of gloves and a mobile phone, which the raider had put down – telling her she would not get them back until she left.

But Gorey took a box of crystal jewellery saying: "Give them back or you will never see these again" before Ms Block used a ruse to get Gorey to go next door.

While she was there, the burglar - who had stolen a passport - fled.

Ms Block would later tell police: "Since this burglary I feel scared in my own home. The slightest noise and I jump. My whole routine in life has changed.

"I can no longer go to bed early because I have to stay up to ensure she doesn't come back, because she came back to my house twice after the burglary. I now find myself scared and crying when I relive what has happened.

"I have spent a lifetime helping people but I now feel violated. This woman is picking on vulnerable people."

The next night Gorey went to the home of widow Denise Jenkins and stole a handbag "containing her whole life" – including important medicine – while she was asleep upstairs.

Later in January, police raided Gorey's home where they found items stolen from the burglaries.

Widow Ms Jenkins said later: "Since this burglary I have been a nervous wreck. I don't feel safe indoors anymore. I feel very scared in my own home."

She said the loss of her tablets could have had serious repercussions "and could have left me in real trouble".

Gorey, who has had burglary convictions since 1988, and was jailed for 42 months in 2009. After her release, she began working in a charity shop.

Oliver Kirk, defending, said: "She would like to apologise to her victims."