THE warden at a Bradford sheltered housing complex has been jailed for 16 months for repeatedly burgling a disabled 82-year-old resident she left with no money to buy food.

Julie Pedley, 49, was led weeping to the cells at Bradford Crown Court yesterday after she deliberately targeted the pensioner at Green Bank Court, Milner Road, Baildon, where she had worked for eight years as scheme co-ordinator.

Pedley, of Rhodes Street, Saltaire, was £7,000 in debt when she used her pass key to target her victim four times, making off with £360, prosecutor Paul Nicholson said.

Her victim, who has mobility issues and a speech impediment, and is hard of hearing, stockpiled cash at her flat because she struggled to get to the bank. Pedley pleaded guilty to burgling her four times, between April 18 and May 30. She was caught red-handed on a hidden camera installed in the flat after the victim told another resident, June Sherwin, that she believed Pedley was letting herself into her home and stealing from her.

Pedley was suspended from her job and dismissed when she admitted taking the money.

Her victim now felt depressed and sad and she had lost her trust in people, Mr Nicholson told the court. She had been without food because she had no money.

Pedley told the police she was £2,000 behind with her mortgage payments and had racked up £7,000 credit card debts.

She admitted targetting the pensioner because she had no friends or family. On one occasion, she pretended to be checking the hot water system at the flat to filch £200 from her victim’s purse.

Pedley’s barrister, Ian Hudson, said she was a woman of previous good character who had worked for the social services department since she was 18.

“It is a very mean and selfish offence and the defendant accepts there are no excuses for her behaviour,” Mr Hudson said.

Pedley sobbed in the dock as Mr Hudson told of her shame and remorse. She had run up debts since her husband left nine years ago, leaving her to bring up their son on her own and unsupported financially. Mr Hudson said: “She deeply regrets taking the money and wishes she could turn back the clock.”

Pedley had a new job, out of the area, and had saved £900 to pay the pensioner back, plus compensation.

Judge Jonathan Rose said Pedley stole from one of the most vulnerable members of society while in a position of trust. He said: “This was not one mistake. It was a deliberate decision to target an 82-year-old lady. She was hard of hearing. She had mobility problems. She is described as frail. She was alone in the world, unlike you. She had neither family nor friends. You deliberately picked her out to be your victim.”