BURGLAR WHO TARGETS ELDERLY VICTIMS JAILED AGAIN
A repeat offender who was subjected to a Criminal Behaviour Order in 2023 which prohibited her from having unsupervised contact with individuals over 60 has been sentenced to prison after breaking into a woman in her nineties.Sammy Jo Dillon, aged 38 and residing on Claremont Road in Plymouth, was apprehended after committing a burglary at a property located in Hetling Close on July 24 of this year.
Police traced Dillon by following the use of her bank cards at two different businesses within the city.
One of these cards was used at a Burger King outlet on New George Street on July 24, with £12.49 spent on food.
That same card was also employed at a betting shop on the same street, where a £30 wager was placed.
Dillon admitted guilt on November 17 at Plymouth Crown Court for breaking into a property belonging to a woman aged 93.
Earlier, on August 26, she also pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud through false representation.
In June 2023, she received a 52-month imprisonment and was mandated to follow a seven-year Criminal Behaviour Order, which barred her from having any unsupervised contact with anyone over 60.
This sentence followed a series of crimes involving the burglary and deception of an elderly, blind couple along with theft from an 80-year-old man with Parkinson's disease, who was described as 'effectively housebound' in court.
During a hearing on Tuesday, Judge Robert Linford sentenced Dillon to three years for the burglary and an additional month for each of the fraud charges, to be served at the same time.
The court decided not to formally record the breach of her Criminal Behaviour Order.
Additionally, Dillon was ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.
Plymouth police’s Priority Crime Team, led by Detective Sergeant Paula Smith, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating, "I welcome the sentence handed down today.
"My team have worked tirelessly on this case, and their dedication has ensured that a dangerous and persistent offender has been brought to justice." She emphasised that Dillon's crimes targeted some of the most vulnerable community members, including an elderly blind couple and an 80-year-old man with Parkinson’s, whom she exploited by falsely claiming she needed to charge her phone.
"She is a cunning offender who manipulated the trust and goodwill of her victims, often pretending she needed to charge her phone in order to gain entry to their homes." said Det Sgt Smith.
She added that Dillon's main motive was to obtain money to support her addictions, and despite receiving help, she relapsed soon after returning to Plymouth.
The officer highlighted that this was Dillon’s third conviction related to similar offenses and reassured that authorities would continue to focus on protecting vulnerable residents.
In closing, Det Sgt Smith praised the victim’s bravery and cooperation, which played a crucial role in the case’s success, and expressed hope that today’s sentencing offers reassurance to the community and victims alike.
