A MOTHER-of-two who targeted elderly people to burgle has been jailed for 12 months.

Clare Potter, of Kidderminster, broke into an 86-year-old man's bungalow and stole a mobile phone, three wallets and a camera.

She also tried to raid the home of an 88-year-old woman living in sheltered accommodation and she received stolen goods taken from the same woman after a break-in by a burglar she refused to name, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Potter, 30, of Salisbury Drive, Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to burglary, attempted burglary and handling stolen goods.

She wept in the dock as Judge Alistair Mccreath told her that the homes of vulnerable people had been "invaded" to pay off her drug debts.

But she had written him a touching letter and she had become drug-free during her time in custody on remand.

Potter went to the man's home in Shrewsbury Road, Kidderminster, on June 2, breaking in through a lounge window, said Charles Hardy, prosecuting.

A day later she tried door handles at the woman's flat in Purcell House, Kidderminster but the victim heard noises after Potter got through the external door to the property and she left empty-handed.

Around midnight a burglar followed up her attempt, stealing the pensioner's pendant, lockets, building society book and medication.

Potter sold the man's camera for £10 and hid the woman's goods in her garden.

Defence counsel Emma Rutherford said Potter was guilty of "unpleasant" offences prompted by heroin addiction.

"She appreciates that what she did was horrendous," she said. "She will always regret it and wishes she could make it up to her victims."

Her children did not know their mother was locked up and she was very distressed by the separation.