Accused women handed estate ban
Two women accused of stealing cash and belongings from elderly residents they befriended on a Wolverhampton estate have been banned from the area.
Michelle Platt, aged 29, and 19-year-old Sammy-Jo Wills were accused of striking up relationships with "vulnerable and elderly" residents over several months before stealing from them.
It is understood that around six victims were targeted, ranging in age from their 50s to 70s.
The women are alleged to have struck up conversations with their targets, claiming that they were looking for someone else.
They would then steal after charming their way into people's homes. On one occasion, several hundred pounds was taken from a victim.
Both failed to appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court, but were found in their absence to have caused "harassment, alarm and distress."
The pair have now each been given three year anti-social behaviour orders which ban them from contacting witnesses in the case and soliciting money from anyone in the city in a way which causes them harassment, alarm or distress.
Platt, of no fixed address, has been banned from the entire Heath Town estate.
Wills lives on the estate, so her ban prevents her from entering Campion House, Brockfield House, Longfield House, Hawthorne House, Hampton View, Ling House, Redoak House, Lincoln House, and Tremont House.
Bosses from Wolverhampton Homes, which manages the majority of the council's stock and applied for the ASBO's, welcomed the bans.
Nick Moss, in charge of tackling anti-social behaviour for the organisation, said: "The orders will afford essential protection to vulnerable residents on the Heath Town estate."
