A WOMAN who stole from disabled and elderly people in Malvern has been banned from entering parts of the town.

Marie Baker, 36, "preyed" on the vulnerable, befriending them before stealing their cash, according to police.

In one incident she promised to go shopping for a 57-year-old disabled man, but instead stole his £10.

In another she is alleged, according to court evidence presented by West Mercia Police, to have stolen £600 from a housebound 86-year-old with cerebral palsy.

Miss Baker has now been served with an injunction prohibiting her from visiting the Pickersleigh ward, where her offending took place.

This comes just days after Fortis Living evicted her from a flat in Marsh Close on Wednesday, December 9, after complaints of anti-social behaviour.

Police hope the two-year injunction, which was approved by Worcester County Court on Thursday, December 17, will mark the end of Miss Baker’s shocking behaviour in the neighbourhood.

In August she was convicted of three thefts from vulnerable adults – offences that prompted an evidence-collecting mission to oust her.

Information collated by police and presented to the court included an allegation that Miss Baker befriended an 86-year-old man with dementia in the summer of 2012 and obtained £600 of his savings, before his concerned family stepped in.

She is also accused of repeatedly visiting the home of a 39-year-old man with cerebral palsy in March 2013 and asking for money.

The incident left the man “nervous and frightened” according to police – and led to a harassment warning for Miss Baker.

A 47-year-old living in sheltered accommodation in Elgar Avenue, Malvern, who also claims he had a frightening experience, said: “She preys on vulnerable people.

“She has no intention of being friendly – she just wants to take money from people.”

Miss Baker has also been accused of hassling people visiting convenience stores in the area.

“She is a huge nuisance for us”, said one shopkeeper.

“Her presence is disturbing and upsetting for our customers. She is known to loiter outside and approach people, particularly the elderly, asking for money.”

But it is now hoped this “undesirable behaviour” will be a thing of the past.

The injunction bans Miss Baker from entering an “exclusion area” – a patch of land between the railway line, Worcester Road and Townsend Way – or from threatening, intimidating or being a nuisance towards anyone within the boundaries.

She is also prohibited from begging from anyone in Malvern in a manner likely to cause them nuisance, alarm or distress.

PC Dave Wise, of West Mercia Police, said: “This has been a huge undertaking for both Fortis Living and Malvern safer neighbourhood team, but we are very pleased with what we have achieved together to protect residents in the Pickersleigh ward.

“Due to the vulnerabilities of the affected residents, it has not always been possible to identify and progress potential criminal matters to court – but with the support of Fortis Living we have been able to compile an extremely strong case against Miss Baker to secure both her eviction from the area and an injunction to prohibit her from undesirable behaviour in the area where she has caused the most harm.

“There are numerous accounts from vulnerable adults and their families in Malvern, who describe similar behaviour, where Miss Baker has befriended them, gained their trust and in one form or another taken money from them.

“I’d like to thank Fortis Living officers for their tenacity and professionalism in taking this case forward to court and also Worcester County Court for taking the necessary steps to curb Miss Baker’s behaviour and protect a long suffering community from further harm.”

Sue Heelas, assistant director of housing and communities at Fortis Living, said: “In cases like this we always have to consider the impact on the wider community.

“This type of action is a last resort but in this case it was necessary to allow other residents to enjoy their homes and neighbourhoods in peace.”

Anyone concerned about an interaction with Miss Baker, or who has information about a breach of the injunction conditions, is urged to contact police on 101.