A WOMAN who targeted vulnerable people to steal from - including a man with cerebral palsy - has been put behind bars.
Among Francesca Fairhurst’s victims was a man with cerebral palsy and mobility issues whose PIN she acquired to withdraw cash from his bank account.
On another occasion, she entered the home of an 81-year-old woman before taking money from her.
A judge at Liverpool Crown Court said that Fairhurst had “repeatedly targeted vulnerable people”, branding her actions as “really serious offences” as he gave her a lengthy jail sentence.
The court heard details of three separate incidents in which the 37-year-old defendant had stolen money as she appeared to be sentenced via video link on Friday, April 17.
Firstly, on December 18, 2024, Fairhurst went to the flat of a man in Parr, from whom she had taken money from previously.
Judge Dennis Watson KC remarked that “you (Fairhurst) knew that he was vulnerable “ and had used the buzzer at the block of flats he lived to “blag” her way inside.
“You knew here was somewhere there were easy pickings.
“You took £30 from his wallet having distracted him and took two (bank) cards.”
Meanwhile, a few months later, on March 18, last year, Fairhurst spotted another victim on Duke Street, in St Helens, as he was making his way to collect a prescription from the GP.
The court heard the man had cerebral palsy and “mobility issues which were immediately obvious to (Fairhurst)”, using a wheeled aid to walk.
He was described as vulnerable and “trusting of others”.
The court heard Fairhurst “quickly gained his confidence, you are someone who is practised in this”, the judge said.
“By your appearance, you are able to present yourself as someone who is kind and use your appearance to gain the confidence and trust of people”.
The court was told Fairhurst had asked the man for money and he gave her £30 but Fairhurst took his wallet and stole £200.
She also took his card and asked for his PIN, which he gave to her so “you could milk him for as much as you possibly could.”
She accompanied the victim to a cash machine and withdrew the maximum sum of £300.
She later tried to use his card to make an £80 payment at a shop but it was declined.
The following day, she even went to the victim’s home on a motorbike to “scout out a return visit”.
A tearful Fairhurst interrupted proceedings to state: “Do you think it’s easy for me to listen to that? I’m disgusted with myself”.
Judge Watson remarked that “your disgust had limited impact on your behaviour”.
Recommended Reading
The court also heard that on April 26, Fairhurst was found with a wrap of cocaine hidden inside her mouth after a police officer had spotted her court on Park Road.
Meanwhile, at 10.30pm, on April 27, Fairhurst went to the Parr home of an 81-year-old woman, who lived alone and was described as “extremely vulnerable because of er mobility issues”.
She put her hand through the letterbox before the victim had even opened the door.
After she had, the defendant told the pensioner she had no money and needed to get home to Wigan, and the victim gave her £20.
However, Fairhurst asked to use the toilet and the victim felt pressured by her behaviour, and the defendant went on to take £200 from the victim’s purse.
“You couldn’t believe your luck, you found another vulnerable victim. You were able to walk in and take from her purse,” judge Watson added.
The court heard summaries of three victim impact statements, which highlighted the distressing impact Fairhurst's offences have had on each of them.
“These are really serious offences. You have a long record of committing very similar offences.
“You repeatedly target vulnerable people and steal from them whether by burglary, or theft, or confidence-type offending.”
The court heard the defendant had previous convictions for 42 offences, including for theft and fraud.
Fairhurst, of Canal Street, St Helens, had pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, theft, fraud, attempted fraud and possession of cocaine in relation to the incidents for which she was sentenced on Friday.
Defending Fairhurst, barrister Miss Menary asked for credit for her client’s guilty pleas and said she said: “I want to apologise for what I have done.”
Miss Menary added that Fairhurst’s letter stated she had a drug addiction and had suffered the loss of her partner.
She added her client had done courses in hairdressing and beauty while in custody and “has done everything she possibly could to get on the right track”.
Judge Watson said he would have regard to totality to ensure Fairhurst’s sentence was “just and proportionate”, stating her previous convictions were an aggravating factor.
He acknowledged that Fairhurst was “in the grip of addiction” but said this was of “limited weight”.
He said the burglaries against the first victim and the elderly woman were the “most serious” offences and sentenced Fairhurst to two consecutive sentences of three years for these.
Judge Watson also gave her concurrent terms of 19 months for the theft from the victim with cerebral palsy, and 15-month terms for fraud and attempted fraud, in relation to the same man.
However, he said the sentence would be excessive if these sentences were also consecutive, ordering them to run concurrently to make an overall sentence of six years.
No separate penalty was imposed for the cocaine possession.
Meanwhile, restraining orders were also imposed, prohibiting Fairhurst from contacting any of the three victims for seven years.
Share