Pair cashed dead man's pension

Both women denied the pension book theft

Two women who stole a dead man's pension book have been jailed for a total of six years.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Amelia Janes and Susan Groves took the book from 83-year-old Kenneth Biddlecombe's home in Cardiff in 2003.

They were later caught on CCTV with another man trying to cash in the pension slips.

Judge Christopher Morton described the offence as "so serious that it has to be prison."

Janes, 48, and 38-year-old Groves, both from Cardiff, took the book from Mr Biddlecombe's Ely home between January and March last year.

Both had denied ever being at his house.

But during the trial Groves said she had called there to deliver leaflets for Janes' gardening business.

The court was told how Janes had 12 previous convictions and Groves had a total of 43.

The two had previously been found guilty of burglary and attempting to obtain pension money from a post office by deception at Cardiff Crown Court.

Judge Morton sentenced Janes to two-and-a half years in prison.

Groves was sentenced to three-and-a-half years.