A JUDGE told two sisters who bewteen them stole almost £5,000 from the home of one of their previous boyfriends: “This was a vindictive, cruel act. It was specifically designed to hurt him and I’m sure it has.”

Judge Gary Burrell QC had heard how Tim Casey had shared a three-year-old relationship with Donna Hopkins but after it ended, she did not return the key to his flat where he kept a substantial amount of cash.

Prosecutor Francisca Da Costa told Southampton Crown Court how the 49-year-old victim returned home one June afternoon and realised something wasn’t right.

He then discovered cash was missing and suspected Hopkins had taken it but didn’t contact the police as he felt he couldn’t prove it.

 He texted Hopkins but she did not reply. Mr Casey didn’t change the locks and a few weeks later discovered another sum of money – about 800 £2 coins – and about £250 worth of winning scratch cards had been taken.

On this occasion, he did report the matter to the police who discovered the coins had been taken to a local supermarket and the scratch cards had been cashed at the post office. None of the money had been recovered.

Hopkins, 44, of Leaside Way, Southampton, admitted two counts of burglary and received a 12-month suspended sentence, 12 months' supervision and a six-month curfew. She was also ordered to repay £3,000 at the rate of £20 a week.

Her sister, Michelle Nichols, 50, of Honeysuckle Road, Southampton, admitted one charge of burglary. She was given a nine-month suspended sentence with a three-month curfew and an order to repay £1,850 also at the rate of £20 a week.

“If you don’t make these repayments, you will come back to court and go to jail,” the judge warned them.