A CARING grandmother once kept her door open to her granddaughter – until the youngster entered her home and stole a precious heirloom and handfuls of cash.

Grandmother Rosa Brewster, 79, of Highbridge, spoke of her disappointment towards granddaughter Rhian Dudley, 18, after she was sentenced at Sedgemoor Magistrates' Court.

Dudley and boyfriend Philip Cole, 21, entered Mrs Brewster's home and stole a gold necklace belonging to her late husband Harry and £70 cash in late June.

They sold it for £300 at Burnham Indoor Market and the court heard how Dudley also stole other small amounts from trusting Mrs Brewster throughout May and June.

Mrs Brewster said: "I do not want people's pity, my emotions were running high after the trial.

"I cannot forgive them at the moment."

The duping duo's defence contributed their actions to them being made homeless and said they swiped the cash to buy food.

Dudley and Cole, who both pleaded guilty to burglary and theft at a previous hearing, received community orders and were ordered to pay Mrs Brewster almost £300 compensation.

Dudley also received a restraining order to stop her contacting her grandmother for a year.

Mrs Brewster added: "I hope they get their acts together, find jobs and sort through their problems.

"I hope they have learned a lesson and they see what they put me through."

The couple had resorted to living in a tent around three months ago after being made homeless, pitching camp in various parks, woods and areas around Highbridge to avoid detection.

Sedgemoor District Council housing manager Jerry Milton said they came for help more than a year ago and last bid for accommodation in May.

He said: "We did not know they were in a tent sleeping, but we are here to help them with their housing issue if they choose to come to us."