A 35-YEAR-OLD woman sneaked into a sheltered housing unit and stole petty amounts of cash from elderly residents.

Blackburn magistrates heard that on the first occasion Lilly May Smith slipped into the accommodation while relatives were visiting and on the second gained entry through a fire escape.

He first victim was 89-years-old and the second was 93-years-old who was very upset and distressed by the incident.

Smith, of Skye Crescent, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary at the Gleneagles sheltered housing complex and asked for a similar offence to be taken into consideration.

She was remanded on bail until October 22 for pre-sentence reports with a warning that all options would be open to the sentencing bench.

The court heard that after sneaking into the unit on August 30, Smith had engaged the 89-year-old woman in conversation in the dining room.

The woman went to her own room to make a cup of tea and when she returned she found Smith had gone along with £12 from her handbag.

On September 13 Smith entered the complex through a fire escape and made her way to the room of a 93-year-old resident.

She was dozing in a chair but woke when Smith entered her room.

She calmly asked if the lady would like a cup of tea.

The old lady said no but Smith went straight to the sideboard and took some loose change from her purse.

She then left, leaving the old lady confused and upset.

Police who viewed CCTV footage were able to recognised Smith and spoke to her at her home address, which is just two minutes walk from the sheltered housing.

Louise Voce, defending, said Smith's father, who had been suffering from throat cancer, had died at the beginning of August.

"It has been a very stressful time for her and it while under the influence of tamazepam and other prescribed drugs that she committed these burglaries," said Miss Voce.