Two heartless women conned their way into the home of a vulnerable elderly man and stole his money, a court heard.

Drug addicts Theresa Bagnall and Tanya Riley targeted 70-year-old Brian Lowrie at his bungalow in Wayfield Road, Chatham, on August 9 last year.

They told him they needed to speak to him and persuaded him to tell them the code to the key safe outside the front door. Once inside, they both hugged him.

When a carer arrived the next day, she found the key safe was open. Mr Lowrie discovered £40 was missing from his wallet.

Mother-of-three Bagnall, of Luton Road, Chatham, and Riley, of Ryde Close, Chatham, admitted burglary. Both have a long list of previous convictions.

They entered the pleas on what would have been the first day of their trial.

Mr Lowrie was due to give evidence from his home by TV link to Maidstone Crown Court.

Riley wrote to the court apologising for what she had done.

“I feel very guilty,” she said.

“I have been on drugs from the age of 16 and abused alcohol from the age of 13. I have never had help before. I now think it is time to accept help.

“I have been brought up with abuse, alcohol and drugs. I am not asking for sympathy and not making excuses. I am simply asking to give me a chance.”

Robert De Banzie, defending, said he had noticed a tangible change in her.

“Time spent in prison has helped her to review her life,” he said.

“She knows it is a custodial matter. Her remorse seems sincere. She feels real shame.”

Jailing Bagnall, 39, and Riley, 34, for 14 months, Judge Philip Statman said of the stolen cash: “It probably didn’t mean too much to you in terms of value – probably a couple of lines of heroin or cocaine.

“To him [Lowrie] that amount was very significant indeed. You targeted him. You knew he was vulnerable.

“No doubt you used the money to fund your addiction.”

Riley’s previous convictions for “repetitive minor offences” stretched to 19 pages and Bagnall also had an “unenviable record”, said the judge.

“This was a classic joint enterprise – you were both in it together,” he added.