A woman posed as a Meals on Wheels worker to trick her way into elderly people’s homes – then stole their money. Hayley Cunningham persuaded a 79-year-old woman in Buxton Drive, Bexhill, that she worked for a company providing hot meals to the elderly to get into her home on March 18.

Once inside she stole the 79-year-old's purse.

Two months earlier Cunningham had conned her way into the home of an 86-year-old woman in Buxton Drive where she stole hundreds of pounds while the victim was distracted.

Cunningham, 29, of Birch View, Bexhill, admitted two counts of burglary and one of fraud when she appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court on March 21.

She also admitted carrying out eight other burglaries and seven other fraud offences in Bexhill.

Cunningham was remanded in custody to be sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

Detective Inspector Ian Williams said: "This is a superb result and will no doubt provide reassurance to the victims and wider community of Bexhill that we will fully investigate crime, and bring the offenders to justice.

"Cunningham preyed on vulnerable elderly people by posing as officials or asking them for help to get inside their homes.

"She deliberately targeted vulnerable people and used the fact they were willing help her to steal from them."

Meanwhile, Tony O'Brien, 51, of St James's Street, Brighton, has been convicted of a burglary in Cambridge Road, Hove, on February 28, and will be sentenced on April 17 at Lewes Crown Court.

Other people who have been charged, but not convicted, of burglaries include: Derek Bilsby, 51, of Sandy Close, St Leonards, who is accused of breaking into a home St Helen's Crescent, Hastings, on March 11 to steal a purse and cash. He was remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on April 3.

Allan Beaton, 37, of Ashgate Road, Eastbourne, who is accused of breaking into a home in Browning Walk, Eastbourne, to steal a games console and games on March 13 and trying to break into a home in Snowdon Close, Eastbourne, on March 13. Beaton was remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on April 10 Shaun Shirley, 52, of Grand Parade, Brighton, who has been charged with burglaries in Foundry Street, Brighton, on March 15 and New England Road, Brighton, on March 18.

Shirley was remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on April 3.