Two “despicable” carers preyed on the elderly and vulnerable to steal sentimental jewellery.

Kirsty Wallis, 34, and Angela Lawrence, 47, scammed an infirm 91-year-old inside her Ashford home at night after infiltrating her key safe.

After escaping with the widow’s jewels - beloved gifts worth £10,000 from her late husband - they fraudulently used her bank card to waste on chocolate and wine.

The pair committed their “heartless” crime after Wallis had targeted a Canterbury client with dementia, swiping his father’s rare keepsake First World War medals, then selling them as scrap metal.

Wallis, of Herne Bay, and Lawrence, of Ashford, were handed prison sentences at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday.

Dressed in her Care at Home-logoed uniform, Wallis crept into Gladys Spratt’s home at 2am in October 2019, prosecutors said.

Ms Spratt was woken up and became confused by Wallis’ and Lawrence’s presence, as she only receives day visits from the care company.

But mother-of-three Wallis lied, claiming police requested her attendance following a disturbance in the area.

“Ms Spratt realised Lawrence picked up her dressing gown and placed it over a bag which she keeps next to her bed,” explained Eleanor Scott-Davies, prosecuting.

The next morning, Ms Spratt discovered her bank cards, bus pass and precious jewels had disappeared.

A police investigation revealed that moments afterwards, Lawrence used Ms Spratts’ bank card to buy fuel, wine and chocolate at a Wincheap petrol station.

And the same afternoon Wallis would receive £150 for scrap gold and silver from A Simmonds jewellers in Folkestone High Street, the court heard.

“None of that jewellery has been recovered,” Miss Scott-Davies added.

During the subsequent probe, officers discovered an antique dealer’s receipt in Wallis’ car for medals, coins and cutlery sold for £45.

The medals were originally awarded to S A Benson for his heroics during the First World War and later passed down to son Eric as heirlooms.

But after Eric contracted dementia, Wallis became his carer and then swiped them from his Canterbury home.

He has since died and will never see the thief brought to justice due to three years of delays in bringing his case to the crown court.

“These were despicable and heartless crimes committed against two elderly and vulnerable people...”

Eric's niece Christine told the court in a victim impact statement today: “Memories and thoughts around our aunty and uncle are tarnished by the selling of our grandfather’s medals.

“Our memories of him are now carrying the thoughts of this crime.”

Mr Benson’s family appeared in the public gallery to learn Wallis’ fate.

Sitting side by side in the dock, Wallis and Lawrence diverted their eyes towards the floor throughout the hearing.

But Judge Catherine Brown ordered the thieves to look her in the eye as she delivered her remarks.

“Many elderly people really resent the point when they need strangers to come into their homes, and offences like this are just the sort of offences that increase the concern," the judge said.

“These were despicable and heartless crimes committed against two elderly and vulnerable people.”

Handing down a combined sentence of more than four years, the judge dismissed Wallis' claims that she was remorseful as “self-pity.”

She told Lawrence the remorse she had shown since her offending had been “limited”.

Dressed in a black sweater, Wallis, of Canterbury Road, was handed two years and six months after previously pleading guilty to burglary and theft.

"The theft of these items from victims who were vulnerable due to their age was a gross breach of trust by these women..."

Lawrence, of Bybrook Road in Kennington, who appeared in court wearing a white top, was handed a year and nine months after previously admitting burglary and fraud.

Their friends and family in the public gallery appeared visibly distraught and could be heard gasping moments after the sentences were delivered.

Ian Bond, mitigating for Wallis, argued she was remorseful, entered an early guilty plea and described her own behaviour as “disgusting.”

He said she voiced anxiety about the welfare of her children if she was jailed - but conceded she was unable to fully compensate her victim financially.

The court heard Wallis resigned from the care company in October 2019.

Kerry Waitt, mitigating for Lawrence, said the defendant felt a “great sense of shame” and regarded herself an otherwise “honest and law abiding citizen”.

He told the court Lawrence’s involvement had brought about a “stain on her character”.

PC Adam Pope, Kent Police's investigating officer, said: "The theft of these items from victims who were vulnerable due to their age was a gross breach of trust by these women, one of whom had been paid to care for the elderly.

"I would like to praise the alertness of the victim who was woken in the middle of the night, and whose assistance has helped bring these offenders to justice.

"Kent Police takes burglary extremely seriously and investigators will work through all lines of enquiry to bring thieves before the courts."