A woman will appear in court charged with preying on elderly patients in hospital to steal their possessions.

Gwendolin Lanius, 61, is accused of stealing from the vulnerable patients after they were admitted to Uckfield Community Hospital for treatment.

She is also accused of stealing from a number of other elderly people in Uckfield after she visited them at their homes in Regency Close and Bradfords Lane in the town.

Lanius, of Regency Close, Uckfield, has been charged with one count of burglary, five counts of theft and one count of attempted theft over a period of more than five years.

She was released on bail to appear at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday.

Lanius’ case comes after other recent successes for Sussex Police’s anti-burglary taskforce, Operation Magpie.

Other cases include Anthony Moore, 47, who wascharged with three burglaries in Sussex Square and Marine Parade, Brighton. Moore, of Sandhurst Avenue, Brighton, was remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday.

Terry Hughes, 39, was also charged with burglary in Marine Parade, Brighton. Hughes, of Roedale Road, Brighton, was remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday.

Elsewhere, 15-year-old boy was charged with a burglary in Dudley Road, Brighton. The boy was released on bail to appear at Brighton Youth Court on 12 May.

In Bognor, a 17-year-old was charged with burglaries in Whiteways, Bognor, and two counts of fraud by false representation. He was released on bail to appear at Worthing Magistrates' Court on July 2.

A 17-year-old boy was also charged with burglaries in Queens Road and North Road in Haywards Heath. He was remanded in custody to appear at Chichester Crown Court on May 21.