Just four days after being given a chance by a judge a persistent Bury fraudster posed as a charity collector to dupe kind-hearted victims.

Hayley Booth had a suspended prison sentence for burglary and fraud hanging over her but undeterred she went to the homes of three women and a man in Brandlesholme to trick them out of their cash.

Booth, 30, of Whitehead Crescent, who admitted to four fraud offences and burglary, is now starting a 50-month jail term.

She refused to leave her cell at Styal Prison for sentence but Judge Stuart Driver QC, who had taken a chance on her for the previous offences, still jailed her.

Maria Brannon, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court Booth started re-offending four days after her suspended sentence. She was identified from doorbell camera footage from her first victim whom she unsuccessfully tried to to con.

The day after she called at a woman’s home, saying she had raised £980 for charity by a sponsored walk and was close to her target. The woman told her to return when her husband was in so she left but minutes later went to the home of a 75-year-old woman, using the same lies, saying she was £30 short of the target.

“She went inside to get her bag and when she turned round she saw the defendant had stepped into the doorway. She told her she had not been invited in but gave her £20. The defendant told her she still needed £10 and became distressed saying, ‘what am I going to do’ so she handed over a further £10,” said Ms Brannan.

Later she returned, again asking for money, but the woman told her her son was coming round and Booth left. In between her two visits Booth had gone to the nearby home of a 73-year-old woman saying she was collecting for charity. The pensioner gave her £20.

Jemma Gordon, defending, said Booth had been released from court rather than prison last time and did not have her medication for her mental health difficulties “resulting in further offending.”