A FORMER drug addict tricked her way into the home of a man whose life she once saved, stealing his wallet during a 'nasty, mean' distraction burglary.

Stacey Billington committed the burglary with an accomplice before the pair fraudulently used the man's stolen credit cards to buy low value goods.

The 31-year-old of Farriers Corner, Droitwich,

claimed she had once saved her victim from a house fire caused by a cigarette.

She had previously been found guilty of burglary and two counts of fraud following a trial at Worcester Magistrates Court and appeared before judge Nicholas Cole at Worcester Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced.

Her accomplice, who had more previous convictions, admitted her role and received a two year prison sentence for the burglary and six months concurrent for each of the frauds.

Billington, aged 31, and her co-defendant knocked on the door of Alan Bell at Meadow Piece in Droitwich at 2am on October 19 last year.

Lee Egan, prosecuting, said Mr Bell agreed to let the defendant use the toilet and the other woman to get a drink of water but refused to let them stay for 10 minutes to 'get warm'.

When they had left he noticed his wallet was missing containing £55 in cash, a Capital One credit card, a Halifax debit card and a driving licence.

One of the cards was used fraudulently at Costcutter in two transactions worth £6.50 and £10.48.

Mr Egan said of the victim, Mr Bell: "He feels he can't trust people anymore. He felt foolish and his trust was betrayed."

He added: "It's serious because it's a distraction burglary."

Judge Cole noted that the defendant has a disability and, because of the burglary, was not able to order groceries.

Billington has 19 previous convictions for 32 offences, including shoplifting and handling stolen goods.

Judith Kenney, defending, said Billington believed she would be acquitted but the magistrates had believed it was a case of 'joint enterprise'.

Ms Kenney said: "She did know Mr Bell and knew his daughter but he didn't recognise her."

She told the court that Billington and a male friend saved Mr Bell when a fire began after he fell asleep at his then home in Farriers Corner with cigarette in his hand.

Ms Kenney said: "She and the male saw the smoke and the male went with her. He smashed the window.

"They both got in to ring the ambulance and he was pulled out.

"Her view is that he would have died if she had not done that."

Ms Kenney said Billington had been addicted to class A drugs for six months but had been giving clear samples.

Billington has been on an electronic tag at her mother's address for the last 11 months which she said was 'a long time to be constrained'.

Judge Cole said: "This was a nasty, mean offence. You went to the house of someone you knew, someone who is vulnerable and, late at night you asked to use the toilet.

"It's clear you betrayed the trust of the homeowner who, because of his good nature, had allowed you into his property."

However, he said she was now abstinent from crack cocaine and that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

For the burglary he sentenced her to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.

Requirements will include drug rehabilitation and 15 rehabilitation activity days.

For the fraud offences he imposed a six month prison sentence suspended for two years to run concurrently.

Her progress will be reviewed at a further court hearing on June 25.