A THIEF targeted 14 elderly women, including one aged 102, in a spree of thefts across Dorset.

The oldest of 14 female victims of Ivalina Hristova, 33, was aged 102, and all were aged over-70 but one woman, 44, who was blind.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard Hristova would pickpocket purses from her targets as they shopped, remove money, and then either return the purse or leave and dump it elsewhere.

She operated at stores including Waitrose, Wilkinsons and Iceland, in Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Weymouth, between August last year and January.

Five of the offences were committed while she was on bail for the previous nine, and on being arrested for at second time at Stanstead Airport in January, returning from Bulgaria, she was remanded in custody. She used an interpreter in court.

Prosecutor Paul Fairley said: "In each of the 14 offences the targets of these thefts are vulnerable."

He said Hristova had "bumped into" the 102-year-old in a bid to create a distraction, which the latter found suspicious. She alerted security and Hristova was searched but no purse was revealed. However she was later identified on CCTV rifling through the woman's bag.

Mr Fairley said the victims felt "shame" as a result of the offences.

"In some cases shame is expressed by the complainants, feeling that they are somehow to blame for not protecting themselves more.

"That is a theme through the victim impact statements although it was not a huge amount of money on each occasion. Of course to these people, all being elderly, money is important however much is taken."

Hristova took £1,200 in total, the court heard, although on one occasion as little as £1.05 was stolen. This included her using a bank card to removed £300 from an account.

Mr Fairley said she was accompanied by a man who was seen to shield her with clothing while the thefts were carried out, although he played no direct part in the thefts. Asked by the judge whether this man had been prosecuted, he said he had not.

Hristova, whose address is listed with the court as the Manchester Hotel, Bournemouth, had admitted 14 counts of theft and one of fraud.

She is due to be returned to court for sentencing on April 12 after a probation service report has been prepared. The court will also hear mitigation from her legal representative.