A WOMAN from Cumbria who befriended a vulnerable pensioner to steal thousands of pounds has today been jailed for 18 months.

Jacqueline Rigg, 41, of no fixed address but formerly of Workington, initially denied the theft charges but changed her plea on the day the trial was due to begin.

She was today sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court.

The court heard how Rigg befriended the victim, from the Workington area, and over a six month period convinced him to part with cash totalling more than £5,000.

In sentencing, Judge Hughes QC described Rigg’s actions as a “particularly mean and nasty course of action”.

He added: “By lies, false expressions of affection, undue influence and actual intimidation, you obtained £5,150 over six months.

“You stripped him of his savings, making him believe he had a real relationship and you told him lie after lie that you would be in a position to repay him when you knew that wasn’t true.”

Rigg was sentenced to 18 months in prison, along with an indefinite restraining order preventing her from contacting the victim.

Det Con Carolyn Orr of Cumbria Constabulary’s Public Protection Unit said: “We take offences of this nature, where offenders are seeking to take advantage of vulnerable, elderly people, extremely seriously.

“I would like to thank the victim for his bravery in coming forward to the police to report what had happened to him.

“This has been a difficult few months for him and I hope that the sentencing today provides him with some closure.

“I would urge anyone who believes they are experiencing something similar or who suspects such offences of taking place to contact us immediately.”