A CON WOMAN who has persistently targeted passers-by with sob stories has avoided jail.

Andrea Thorne, 31, lied to people she approached that her car had broken down and she needed money to buy a bus or train ticket.

Police were alerted to the scam by a good Samaritan who gave the woman money after believing she was in need.

The kind-hearted woman handed over £30 to the Thorne in Eastern Road, Brighton, outside the Sussex Eye Hospital, after the scammer claimed to be having issues with her car and asked for money to cover her bus or train fare back home.

The victim made contact with the police as she felt the woman's behaviour was suspicious.

Thorne, of Percival Terrace, Brighton, admitted four fraud offences and a charge of shoplifting when she appeared before Brighton magistrates' on Friday.

She was sentenced to 16-weeks imprisonment suspended for two years. She was also ordered to pay compensation to the four victims of fraud, amounting to £55.

She was also given a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which bans her from approaching people in a public place and asking them for money.

It is not the first time Thorne has been caught selling sob stories. She was handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence, ordered to attend a drug rehabilitation programme and pay court costs of £85 in May 2015.

PC Kevin Michnowicz, of Sussex Police, said: "If Thorne is seen doing this, she is liable for arrest after breaching her CBO and she could be sent to prison.

"She has approached members of the public, with stories such as her car has broken down and she needs to see her son in hospital or take him to hospital and could she borrow some money from them which she will pay back.

"Supposedly, she takes mobile phone details with the intention of contacting the 'victim' the following day to arrange how to return the money but never does.

"If you see Thorne asking people for money in the city or you are approached by her, please contact us."