A DAUGHTER who stole her mother’s life savings to pay off a large drug debt has been jailed for her “wicked” crime.

Kelly Bailey, 39, of Laugharne Court, Barry, crept into her mum Tina Bailey’s bedroom to take the £3,370 in cash as she slept.

The defendant has previously been sent to prison for stealing from her mother, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Paul Hewitt, prosecuting, said: “The victim went to bed at around midnight after taking medication to help her sleep.

“She was awoken by her daughter and she found her in her bedroom.

“Her daughter told her mother not to forget to wake her up in the morning.

“When Mrs Bailey did wake up that morning, she found that her purse with her life savings in it was gone.

“She had withdrawn the money from her building society because she was concerned during Covid-19 that the banks would collapse.”

Mr Hewitt said the police were called and Bailey was arrested shortly after in Barry having spent £1,000 of the stolen cash on a drug debt.

Some of the rest of the money was recovered by the police.

Bailey pleaded guilty to theft, the offence being committed on August 28.

Mr Hewitt said Bailey has 52 previous convictions for 100 offences.

She was jailed for two years and 38 months in 2008 and 2011 respectively for robbery.

Bailey served an eight-week prison sentence this year for shoplifting.

Hilary Roberts, mitigating, said: “This is a 39-year-old woman who has had a fairly desperate life. She resorted to drink and drugs at an early age.

“She has been addicted to crack cocaine in excess of 10 years.

“The defendant succumbed to the temptation to take her mother’s money.

“She feels shame and would like to apologise to her mother. She’s got nothing in life.”

Judge David Wynn Morgan told Bailey: “You offer the court no alternative but to send you to immediate custody.

“You know perfectly well that you have committed a very wicked offence.

“It’s not the first time you have done it. The level of harm in this case is high.”

Bailey was jailed for two years and ordered her to pay a £156 victim surcharge after her release from prison.