A con woman who tricked her way into a string of elderly people’s homes in Suffolk and Norfolk to steal valuables and items of sentimental value sobbed as she was jailed for six years.

Tracey Parker-Smith, 33, was described by a judge as a “thoroughly dishonest individual” who deliberately targeted elderly vulnerable people to steal whatever she could from their homes in a 14-day “frenzy” of distraction burglaries.

Recorder Frank Burton said the elderly needed protection from people like her and added: “Targeting the elderly is a particularly despicable form of criminal conduct.”

He said she had violated the sanctity of her victim’s homes taking items of sentimental value, such as rings given by deceased partners.

Norwich Crown Court heard that one 90 year-old victim, who lives in sheltered accommodation in Lakenheath, who had a diamond ring and cash stolen, said in a statement she would like to tell Parker-Smith: “You’ll be old one day. How would you feel if someone did this to you.”

Parker-Smith, of London Road, Downham Market, admitted eight counts of burglary between August 31 and September 13 this year and asked for 11 similar offences to be taken into consideration. She appeared via video link from Peterborough prison.

Andrew Oliver, prosecuting, said Parker-Smith used a number of aliases and tricked her way into homes by offering cleaning work.

He said she pretended she was working for a company offering an hour’s free cleaning to anyone over 70, but once inside stole valuables and cash.

Mr Oliver said that all the victims described how upset they felt about the thefts.

Stephen Spence, for Parker-Smith, said she deserved credit for her guilty pleas as she had spared anyone having to come to court.

He said although she had previous convictions for dishonesty she had never committed anything as serious as this before.