A thief who stole hundreds of pounds from a 92-year-old woman in Wembley as she made her way home from the bank been sent to jail.

Diyana Kircheva, 34, targeted her elderly victim after two accomplices spotted her withdrawing £540 from a branch in Wembley High Road.

The trio followed the victim on a bus with one sitting next her where they placed a scarf across her lap and over the bag containing the money before stealing it in August last year.

They were identified through CCTV and their images were circulated.

Kircheva was arrested at Gatwick Airport as she returned to the UK from a trip

She admitted theft and was sentenced to six months in prison at Harrow Crown Court.

Her two accomplices are still at large.

DC Neil Giles, from Safer Transport Command, said: “To target an elderly lady and steal her money is a despicable crime for which the custodial sentence is appropriate.

“Please can I advise all members of society not to carry large amounts of cash on public transport if at all possible.

“Crowded buses and trains are the workplace of pickpockets who do not discriminate when it comes to victims.”