Purse thief jailed and banned from Leeds city centre for preying on elderly victims 

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A purse thief who preyed on elderly women has been locked up and banned from Leeds city centre for five years.

Samantha Varley targeted vulnerable victims in pubs, cinemas, a McDonald’s restaurant and a Greggs bakery during a spate of offending.

Varley has a “formidable” criminal record dating back more than 20 years.

The 40-year-old mother-of-three carried out her latest offences during 2017 and 2018 in Leeds city centre.

Ken Green, prosecuting, said Varley stole a purse belonging to a 78-year-old woman in McDonald’s, on Briggate, on July 5, 2017.

The defendant went onto the first flood after ordering food and sat close to the victim.

Varley placed her coat over the woman’s handbag before reaching inside it and taking the purse.

The victim noticed the purse was missing after Varley had left. Mr Green said she was left deeply distressed as the purse contained sentimental photographs.

A 90-year-old woman was targeted in the Picture House pub, Merrion Street, on July 7, 2017.

CCTV footage showed Varley stealing the woman’s bag when she left her table to go to the toilet. The bag contained cash and keys. The victim was so distressed she felt unable to go into Leeds city centre for two months.

Varley carried out a similar offence at the Picture House on April 23, 2018.

She stole a bag which contained a purse, bank cards and a book which contained pin numbers. Varley managed to use the bank cards to withdraw £2,000 from the victim’s account.

Source: Purse thief jailed and banned from Leeds city centre for preying on elderly victims – Yorkshire Post