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A "despicable sly" thief who stole from her 93-year-old dying war-hero grandad in his own home has walked free from court.

Melissa Collier, 28, would sneak past her deaf grandad who was confined to a chair in his own home, only when she knew her grandma, 83, was out, before helping herself to their "limited-means precious" money.

At first, the elderly Anlaby couple thought they had "taken leave of their senses" when money first began going missing from inside their warden-controlled sheltered housing complex, and then suspicion fell on their carer.

But after police installed a secret camera, the entire family were left "devastated" to learn the thief was actually the elderly couple's very own granddaughter - who they were extremely close to.

Collier's grandad, who Hull Live has chosen not to name, died before he received any apology or explanation and before Collier, of Trinity Court, Hull city centre, was convicted.

Having been sent to into custody on Tuesday, Collier, who "ironically" worked in credit control, returned to the dock at Hull Crown Court on Thursday to hear from Judge Paul Watson QC, Honorary Recorder of Hull, who allowed himself time to "reflect" before passing sentence.

(Image: Facebook)

Collier's grandma was in court, alongside Collier's former best friend, Samantha Wood, who she also stole from, to hear for themselves what her punishment would be. You can read the full story of how Miss Wood caught her on camera in her home here.

'An extraordinary situation'

The judge told Collier, who was sobbing throughout, to remain seated while he outlined her "appalling catalogue of despicable crime", having also described her actions as "sly".

He told her the sentencing guidelines advise a prison sentence with a starting point of three years for just one offence, but said due to her "heartfelt" remorse, previous good character, promising future, and, in his opinion, a low chance of re-offending, he was willing to suspend her sentence for 18 months.

He said: "This is an extraordinary situation, bearing in mind your age, no previous convictions, cautions or reprimands, you have never been in trouble before.

"But over a period in May and June last year you were taking advantage of your grandparents.

(Image: Facebook)

"You knew it was easy because you knew the grandfather was deaf and would not able to hear you, you helped yourself from their limited-means funds that was precious for them.

"At first they thought that it was them who had taken leave of their senses, and then, I regard this as one of the worst features of this case, suspicion fell on the carer because it was thought that the carer was the only one with the access to that bungalow, and all along it was you.

"It was only when the police became involved, everything became clear.

'An appalling catalogue of despicable crime'

"You were sneaking in and helping yourself to relatively small amounts of money, before sneaking out again, you did this until you were finally apprehended by the police.

"As if that wasn’t bad enough, you were a really close friend with Samantha Wood, the two of you have known each other since you were children, you were not just friends but confidants, and you were doing the same to her, helping yourself to money from her purse. What an appalling situation this is.

"It really is the appalling catalogue of despicable crime."

Watch: Melissa Collier caught on secret camera stealing from best friend

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Judge Paul Watson QC said on Tuesday he had in mind a sentence of 18 months after Collier admitted one charge of theft and five charges of burglary, but wanted to "reflect" first.

He told her that after "seeing the inside of prison" he hoped she would understand the consequences of her actions, and said that time served made his job of suspending the sentence "just a little easier".

(Image: Facebook)

He added: "You are someone with potential, you did a foundation degree, you worked ironically in credit control and you clearly had a future ahead of you, all that’s gone, these convictions will leave a stain on your life, you could have done so much else but you chose to steal."

He reiterated he was "only just" persuaded to pass a suspended sentence and also told her she will need to serve a period of rehabilitation activity for up to 15 days. There were no orders for compensation or costs.

(Image: Facebook)

'A spiral of debt'

The court heard Collier had got into a spiral of debt, which is why she chose to steal from those closest to her.

Mark Savage, defending, said: "She cannot take back her actions. Her remorse is sincere and genuine.

"It may take many years if ever for her to make any ground again and she accepts fully that is a result of her own actions.

"She got into a spiral of debt and could not see a way out. She could have dealt with matters differently. What she did, she accepts fully was wrong. She offers no excuses. The matter got out of hand and she's hurt those closest to her."

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