YOUNGSTERS who were charged with burglary offences following the death of a pensioner deliberately targeted homes of old people, Reedley Youth Court was told.

A 12-year-old boy stood before the youth panel after admitting burglary at the home of Nelson woman Sheila Bridge, in Lansbury Place, Nelson, on June 26.

A 12-year-old girl was also accused of the burglary at Mrs Bridge's house, as well as with attempted burglary of a second house in Lansbury Place on the same day.

A 10-year-old boy was accused of the burglary of a house in Netherfield Road on June 24.

It was discovered that the children, who are all in local authority care, were involved in at least one of the burglaries after police investigating the death of Mrs Bridge, who suffered a heart attack shortly after being burgled, found forensic evidence linking them.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said the youngsters had deliberately targeted houses where they knew the occupants were elderly and vulnerable.

The 12-year-old boy, who was 11 years old when he committed the offence, was given a 12-month supervision order.

He had not taken part in the actual burglary, in which a vase containing plastic flowers was taken from Mrs Bridge's windowsill.

But he had been there and had tried to wipe fingerprints off.

The chairman of the bench told the boy his list of previous convictions was "a disgusting record."

She said: "It is so bad you are known as a persistent offender and that is a dreadful thing to be at the age of 12. If you come to court again for a similar offence you will almost certainly go in to custody."

The 10-year-old boy accused of burglary of the house of an 85-year-old woman in Netherfield Road was given a six-month supervision order and was also told by the chairman of the bench that he had a poor record.

She said: "It's time you mended your ways. You are going to have a supervision order and if you have any sense at all you will take notice of that. It's time you turned over a new leaf."

Miss Statham said the elderly occupant of the council-owned bungalow had gone out as it was a sunny day.

When she returned she found her door unlocked, her purse missing and her bathroom window open.

The 10-year-old's fingerprints were found on the inside of the window.

Miss Statham said: "Because he is so small he is the one who is asked to go in through the bathroom window. He is not a person who is easily bullied.

"He can stand his own ground in interviews and he knew full well what he was doing."

She said the elderly woman was very upset by the incident and now feels unsafe in her own home.

The 12-year-old girl will return to Reedley Youth Court on October 22. Her case was adjourned to allow the youth offending team time to prepare a report.