A heroin addict has been convicted of murdering her elderly neighbour by battering her with a rolling pin in a “breathtakingly wicked” act.

Sandra Weir stole from 82-year-old Mary Logie in the years leading up to the brutal attack, using the cash to fund her drug habit.

The widow was found lying in a pool of blood with multiple skull fractures and other “catastrophic” injuries in her flat in Green Gates, Leven, Fife, on the evening of January 5.

She was found to have 31 injuries to her head and neck, as well as bruising on her hands and fractured fingers from trying to defend herself.

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The trial heard from neighbours who described hearing loud noises and a woman saying “ouch” on the day of Mrs Logie’s death.

Judge Michael O’Grady QC told the court Weir had attacked Mrs Logie at her home and later returned to the scene and “finished her off”.

Mr O’Grady said: “In these courts we do not weigh the worth of victims; nor should we. All life is precious.

“But, on the evidence before me, Rae Logie was a decent, kind, tolerant and harmless elderly woman.

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That you should have betrayed her trust is shocking enough.”

He described the manner of Mrs Logie’s death as “breathtakingly wicked”.

“I have no doubt then you left her for dead and went about your business. Instead, you found she was still alive and that you could not allow,” Mr O’Grady said.

“And so, as she lay defenceless, you simply finished her off.”

Jurors at the High Court of Edinburgh convicted Weir of murder on Thursday after just one hour of deliberation.

Weir got close to Mrs Logie, who was known as Rae, by acting as an “unofficial carer” and helping out with errands.

She used her bank cards to withdraw cash and stole two rings from her to pawn for money.

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Mrs Logie threatened to go to police over the theft after discovering money was missing but Weir persuaded her not to, saying she had accidentally used the wrong card.

An old friend of Mrs Logie told the trial the pensioner had been left “very upset” to find money had disappeared from her account, and was forced to cut back on activities that she enjoyed.

The trial heard Weir had been a drug addict since her early 20s and had asked family for money to pay debts to Mrs Logie.

Detective chief inspector Keith Hardie said: “Sandra Weir is a callous and uncaring individual who regularly exploited Mary Logie for financial gain.

“She would use coercion to obtain cash and other items of value from Mary before ultimately subjecting her to a horrific attack, which left the 82-year-old with fatal injuries.

“The level of violence inflicted upon Mary, coupled with the prolonged period of bullying and intimidation, demonstrated Weir’s complete disregard for the well-being of her victim.”

Mr Hardie continued: “Mary’s death had a profound impact on the local community and we are extremely grateful to the local residents who came forward with vital information that allowed us to identify Weir and bring her to justice.

“Crimes on vulnerable people are often carried out by opportunists, who believe they can commit such offences without repercussion.

“I would urge the public to remain vigilant for any unusual activity or suspicious people around the homes of elderly friends, relatives or neighbours, and report any concerns to police immediately.”

He added: “I would finally like to thank the family of Mary Logie for their continued support throughout our investigation.

“I hope that today’s verdict can bring them one step closer to moving on from the traumatic ordeal of Mary’s death.”

Weir will be sentenced in Edinburgh on January 12.