TWO thieves who stole a vulnerable disabled man’s life savings of £16,000 were warned by a judge they are facing an immediate prison sentence.

Sylvia Richards, aged 61, of St Johns Court, and Paul Baker, aged 37, of Coverack Road, both Newport, pleaded guilty to burglary.

At the city’s crown court, the pair admitted committing a raid in Duffryn on June 26, 2018 when the cash was stolen.

Richards and Baker had been due to stand trial but pleaded guilty to the offences before a jury was sworn in.

They admitted the charges not long after the complainant had arrived in court ready to give evidence.

The prosecutor in the case was Nuhu Gobir.

Richards was represented by Clare Wilks who asked for sentence to be adjourned so that a report could be prepared by the Probation Service.

Her barrister said her client suffered from “health difficulties” and needed daily medication.

Miss Wilks said Richards’ last conviction was from 2015 and that she had a “limited antecedent” history.

She added: “She has not frequently troubled the courts.”

Suzanne Payne, for Baker, also asked that his sentence be adjourned for reports.

She said that her client suffers from mental conditions, including “anxiety and depression”.

The court heard he committed the burglary while serving a community order for another offence.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke told the duo she was ordering pre-sentence reports only to determine the length of the prison terms they would have to serve.

Richards was granted conditional bail to live and sleep each night at the address given to the court and not to enter Duffryn or Newport market.

Baker was also given bail on the same conditions.

Judge Lloyd-Clarke added: “You have both pleaded guilty to extremely serious offences.”

Sentence was adjourned to either Newport or Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, April 12.