A heartless thief posed as a carer before knocking a disabled 74-year-old man out of his wheelchair so she could rob him of just £10 in loose change.
Callous Lisa Carmichael left her victim lying helpless on the floor as she rummaged round his home, before walking past him to leave with the money.
Graham Beer was eventually able to activate his community alarm and was found still lying helpless on the ground when police officers arrived on the scene.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told it was the second time Carmichael had targeted an elderly man in the same street in the space of less than a fortnight.
The 39-year-old, from Dundee, admitted trying to rob 80-year-old Robert Varney by taking his wallet from his trouser pocket on December 29 2021.
She admitted returning to Abbotsford Street on January 10 and attacking and robbing Mr Beer.
Accused knew first victim
Fiscal depute Gavin Burton told the court: “The first complainer is 80 and had known the accused since last summer.
“He had invited her in on a few occasions.
“He was on a video call to his daughter when his buzzer went off, so he allowed access to the close, because he thought it would be his ex-wife.
“He unlocked the door in the same belief.
“The accused immediately came in.
“He shouted at her to leave the address.
“He tried to push her out.
“She forcibly and repeatedly tried to grab his wallet from his back trouser pocket.
“She eventually ceased her attempt and left.
“The complainer’s daughter was on the video call throughout.”
Second robbery
Mr Burton said Mr Beer had known the accused for a few weeks and had once paid her to change a lightbulb.
She was seen pulling up outside the property in a taxi.
Moments later, Mr Beer heard a knock at the door and Carmichael told him: “It’s your carer.”
Mr Burton said: “He opened the door and realised it was the accused, rather than his carer.
“He instructed her to leave and tried to shut the door on her.
“She pushed through and barged past, knocking him off his wheelchair and onto the floor as she did so.
“A neighbour heard a disturbance from the flat.
“She took approximately £10 in change from the property before returning to the taxi she arrived in.
“The complainer was stuck on the floor.
“He activated the community alarm and informed care staff what had occurred.
“Police arrived and found him still stuck on the floor.”
He was helped back into his wheelchair and Carmichael was later traced at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
She told officers: “I’m sorry for what I’ve done.”
Sheriff Paul Brown deferred sentence for background reports and Carmichael was remanded in custody.
