Jailed, serial pickpockets who steal from pensioners

CROOKS LOCKED UP FOR FIVE MONTHS FOR TARGETING WOMAN, 83, AND MAN AGED 91

TWO notorious serial pickpockets who target the elderly in Greater Manchester have been caught again.

Lorna Walker, 38, and Peter Ellis, 50, were arrested on December 6 for targeting two elderly people, both of whom use walking sticks, two weeks apart in Eccles town centre.

The first victim was an 83-year-old woman who had her purse taken out of her bag on November 14.

The second victim was a 91-year-old man who had his wallet taken from his back pocket while he was distracted on November 27.

After becoming aware of the police investigation, the duo went into hiding for a brief period of time before being tracked down by police.

The pair were sentenced at Manchester magistrates court.

They both received five-month custodial sentences for stealing from the old and vulnerable.

Sergeant Simon Judd, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “We wanted these two in custody as soon as possible.

“It was a team effort, as every job is, and this is some good old fashioned police work.” According to police, the pair have been active in Greater Manchester for the past 12 months and have a long and extensive criminal history.

The duo went viral back in 2018

Sgt Simon Judd

Lorna Walker and Peter Ellis have been jailed

when a video of them stealing from a customer in a coffee shop in Oldham was shared almost two million times on Facebook.

They were arrested for the crime, but

just months after being released were caught again in Tameside.

Police say in recent years they have had links to Cheetham Hill, Crumpsall, Salford, Stretford and Bolton.