A couple who stole cash and jewellery from elderly victims in a string of 'disgraceful' distraction burglaries have been jailed.

Mark Smith, 42, and Rachel Cooper, 38, both of Lushes Road, Loughton were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court after being found guilty of robbing pensioners, including a 94-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease, in May.

Smith was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment and Cooper was sentenced to two years and nine months' imprisonment for a total of the 13 offences.

Smith and Cooper targeted their victims over a five month period from July to November 2014 with four of the crimes committed in Redbridge and Havering, four in Kent and five in Essex.

The victims' ages ranged between from 70 - 94 years.

One of their victims was a 94-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease who was targeted on three separate occasions at her home in Loughton. 

The pair stole over £5,000 in cash and £2,000 in jewellery from her.

Their method was to trick unsuspecting pensioners by knocking on their doors and telling them they needed money to take a sick relative to hospital.

Smith was arrested after he attempted the scam on September 4, last year in Brentwood.

Police were called and he was arrested after the victim positively identified him.

Cooper was arrested and charged on November 28 last year, after she had been caught on CCTV using a stolen bank card belonging to a 91-year-old man immediately after she stole it from him during a distraction burglary in Woodford Green.

During the offence Cooper was let in to the property on the pretence she needed to take her grandmother to hospital.

The man gave her £30 for a taxi but Cooper pushed him over and snatched his wallet which contained cash and bank cards.

An investigation codenamed Operation Triage was led by Detective Sergeant Brett Hagen.

He said: "Distraction burglary is a disgraceful crime and Smith and Cooper represent every elderly person's worst nightmare.

"They conned their way into addresses with brazen and concocted stories, specifically targeting vulnerable victims.

"Their substantial jail sentences are a just reflection of the despicable nature of these crimes.

"I would like to thank the various constabularies who assisted in this operation and in particular Detective Constable Dan Pridige, who worked tirelessly on the case."