Thief stole bag from woman's wheelchair in Gloucester A&E

Georgina Willoughby targeted vulnerable and elderly victims in her string of thefts

A thief who took a disabled woman's bag from her wheelchair in a hospital A&E department has been jailed for 16 months.

Georgina Willoughby, of Hopewell Street in Gloucester, was sentenced after admitting a string of thefts in which she targeted handbags and purses.

The 32-year-old's offending took place in Gloucester and Cheltenham between 24 December 2023 and 9 January.

Police said Willoughby targeted vulnerable and elderly victims.

She pleaded guilty to three counts of theft and accepted 13 charges of similar offences, which were taken into consideration for sentencing at Gloucester Crown Court.

The rucksack which was taken from Gloucestershire Royal Hospital's A&E was later found on hospital grounds with medication and money taken from it.

CCTV showed Willoughby had placed a large coat over the bag before walking out of the waiting room.

During the second theft, she took a woman's bag from Society Café in Cheltenham on 9 January and took cash and a bank card.

She was arrested after the third theft from Revival Cafe, also in Cheltenham, when she was stopped by PC Laurie Merchant.

Willoughby was arrested and the purse was returned to a woman who had been sitting in the cafe.

PC Helen Kettle from the Cheltenham Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "Once Willoughby had targeted her victims she callously dumped their money, bags and purses in bins.

"I welcome this sentence and the neighbourhood team will continue to work tirelessly to ensure offenders of these offences are brought to justice."