A 'prolific offender' who stole money from under a pensioner's nose at a cashpoint has been put behind bars.

Emily O'Brien went up to the man in his 70s while he was trying to draw out money at the Forton Road ATM in Gosport and told him the machine wasn't working.

The 29-year-old started pressing buttons on the screen and then barged the man out of the way, before pocketing the cash that came out, police said.

The criminal then ordered the man to put in his card back in and draw out more cash which she grabbed, shoving him in the process.

Police Staff Investigator Sarah Hills, who led the criminal investigation, said: “This incident was especially cruel, as she targeted a man who was clearly vulnerable."

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O'Brien, of no fixed abode, was arrested and charged with theft before appearing at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on August 29.

She was also charged with a theft on June 20 from the Post Office on Gosport High Street, where £180 of chocolate was stolen.

O'Brien pleaded guilty to both charges and was jailed for a year at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday.

PSI Hills said: “Emily O’Brien is a prolific offender across Fareham and Gosport, and I hope the community remain confident that we will always robustly deal with these types of offences.

"Her disregard for the local community is shocking, and it is right that she has been put behind bars for her crimes."