A thief who preyed on elderly people by telling them she worked for Fife Council to gain entry to their homes has been jailed.
Lisa Nicholson, 30, of High Street, Cowdenbeath, admitted that on April 15 at an address on Lochleven Road and two addresses on Montrose Crescent, Lochore, she told various householders she worked for the council or was a carer concerned in their welfare, gained entry to their homes and asked about valuables.
She also admitted being in the curtilage of a house on Lyneburn Crescent, Halbeath, on July 2, whereby it could be inferred that she intended to commit theft; stealing jewellery from a house in Dunfermline’s Myers Court on July 3; and attempting to steal a purse on Kirkcaldy’s Hill Street on August 4.
On the latter date, she also acted in an abusive manner by shouting, swearing and assaulting PC Amanda Donald by kicking her on the body to her injury.
Depute fiscal Louise Ward said Nicholson turned up at a 74-year-old woman’s house on Lochleven Road claiming she was there as a support helper and had been sent by her daughter. She said she needed her Visa card to pay a bill, but the woman then phoned her daughter and Nicholson left.
On Montrose Crescent, she told a 65-year-old woman she had been sent “to help the old people and disabled” out with finances. She asked the woman if she had any jewellery worth more than £500 as she would need more insurance. The woman said she didn’t and called police.
And on the same street, a 46-year-old woman was leaving her mother’s home and found Nicholson in the garden, claiming she was a carer. When the woman asked whose carer she was, Nicholson pointed at the woman’s mother and police were contacted.
Solicitor Chris Sneddon said his client had a history of mental health problems and it was his view she was exploited by others “pulling the strings”.
Sheriff Charles MacNair jailed Nicholson for three months for the Lochore offences and 176 days for the other matters. He also imposed a five-year Asbo banning her from entering or attempting to enter any dwelling without knowing the occupant or without prior invitation.