Greedy thief jailed for preying on vulnerable pensioner in late-night cash machine attack
27 months behind bars for Kirsty Rank
Kirsty Rank, 29, has been slapped with a 27-month prison sentence at Durham Crown Court. The Ferryhill woman was found guilty of attempted robbery and two thefts after targeting a vulnerable elderly man in Spennymoor over five days.
Deceptive cash machine con exposed
Rank tricked the man into believing she had deposited £500 into his bank account. She then forced him to withdraw small amounts of cash over several days from March 27 to April 1. The scam escalated dramatically on the final day when she woke the man at 1am, demanding another trip to the ATM.
Shocking attack caught by passing good Samaritan
When the victim couldn’t find his bank card, Rank turned aggressive, pushing him against a wall and frisking his pockets. Luckily, a passing motorist spotted the mugging and called the police, preventing further harm.
Police reveal chilling details of Rank’s crimes
Investigations uncovered Rank never deposited any cash but instead withdrew over £1,800 from the man’s account. Ferryhill Inspector Mike Sammut blasted Rank as “a prolific offender” preying on vulnerable older men too ashamed to speak out.
“It is reassuring to see the courts taking crimes against vulnerable members of the community seriously, and welcome the sentence imposed.”
