Two heartless thieves tricked their way into the home of an elderly woman by pretending to be a relative and then swiping her handbag.

Christopher McDonagh and Bradley Thompson convinced the woman, who is her 90s, to let them into her Margate home using the front door intercom after they rung on her doorbell on June 11.

As they walked into the room, she realised they had lied and told them to leave.

But the pair instead caused a disturbance to distract her and took her bag containing cash, bank cards and an engagement ring before leaving the property in Mill Lane.

She only realised afterwards that during the incident her bag had been stolen.

An investigation into the distraction burglary was launched by police and during CCTV enquiries, officers were able to identify the two thieves as McDonagh and Thompson.

They were each charged with one count of burglary, which they admitted at Canterbury Crown Court.

McDonagh, 43, of William Avenue in Margate, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

Thompson, 44 and of no fixed address, initially denied the charge before changing his plea. He was jailed for a total of three years and nine months.

Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson from the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad, said: "In court it was heard Thompson and McDonagh had targeted the property due to the victim’s age which is just deplorable.

"They stole items important to her, both financially and sentimentally valuable. Her engagement ring which she has kept safe for years, is not something that can be replaced.

"For two men to be able to treat a lone elderly woman like that and steal her belongings, really shows very little decency from the pair.

"She must have been frightened – understandably - and I hope she feels safer knowing they have been jailed."

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