A woman who has repeatedly preyed on elderly and vulnerable victims is back behind bars. 

Prolific offender Sally Harcourt, 45, had been made the subject of a criminal behaviour order (CBO) banning her from entering any sheltered housing accommodation in Norfolk.

But Norwich Crown Court heard Harcourt breached that order by entering the home of a vulnerable person in Hobart Square, Norwich.

Harcourt, who has 73 previous convictions, appeared at court having admitted breaching the CBO on August 13 this year. 

Recorder Simon Taylor said Harcourt who had "targeted elderly and vulnerable people" in the past had on this occasion "come in through the window" of the victim's home.

He said: "The order was in place because of your previous targeting of elderly and vulnerable people and was needed to protect people around Norwich and elsewhere."

But in imposing a two-month prison sentence, Recorder Taylor said he was giving full credit for her plea.

John Morgans, mitigating, for Harcourt, of HMP Peterborough, said she was “exploited” and at a “very early age” became an addict of class A drugs.

He said since the age of 12 she has committed inquisitive crimes to “fund that habit” and had an “unimaginably bad start to life”.

But Mr Morgans added that against the backdrop of the “most miserable imaginable start in life” she has made “magnificent progress” and had been drug free for the first time in years.

Speaking after the sentence was imposed last week, Inspector Graham Dalton, from Norfolk Constabulary, said: "Sally has been given a number of warnings and despite restrictions placed on her by the CBO she has continued to prey on our elderly and vulnerable community.

"This sentence reflects the escalation of her offences and will protect those at risk of her exploitation."

Harcourt was issued with a CBO in June last year with a condition not to enter any formal regulated or recognised sheltered housing establishment in the county.

It was after she was sentenced to 18-months imprisonment after she admitted charges of handling stolen goods, theft, and two counts of breaching a CBO following an incident on March 8 last year.