A woman who pretended to be in desperate need for help claiming her daughter had been diagnosed with cancer has been given a suspended jail term after stealing the purses of those who handed overthe cash.

Mary Anne Borg, 29, from Rabat, targeted elderly people across the island by knocking on their doors and provided them with a sorry story about how she needed help for her cancer-stricken daughter.

After they gave her the cash, she asked them for a glass of water and the minute they turned their backs and left their purses on a table near the door, she snatched it and ran off, sources close to the case said.

She admitted to stealing from the homes of elderly people in Qormi, Rabat, Marsa, Msida between May 30 and June 14. She also admitted to breaching bail conditions in another pending case and failing to keep her identity card updated with the correct address.

After filing a guilty plea, Magistrate Carol Peralta sentenced her to two years behind bars suspended for four years.

Police inspector Joseph Mercieca prosecuted.

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