A sneaky thief was caught burgling her own grandparents' home on a secret camera set up by police.

Melissa Collier, 28, would wait until she knew her grandma, 83, was out before letting herself into their home and "creeping" past her 92-year-old war-hero grandad who was confined to a chair after suffering a stroke.

After the couple noticed money was going missing, their concerns were reported to police who set up "surveillance" inside their Anlaby sheltered housing complex.

Hull Crown Court heard it was their carers who "came under suspicion", but in a deplorable twist, the thief turned out to be their very own granddaughter, who they had an "excellent" relationship with.

Collier's grandad was said to be "devastated" when he was told it was his daughter's daughter who had been stealing from them.

He has since died without an apology and before her conviction.  

Melissa Collier, known to friends as Milly stole from her grandparents and her best friend

Stephen Welch, prosecuting, told the court that Collier, of Trinity Court, Hull city centre, had used information only known to the family before "planning" how to take advantage.

He said: "For some time they had noticed money had been going missing, never in very large amounts. The suspicion had fallen on the carer.

"The matter was reported to the police and was under surveillance.

"When her grandmother was being taken out to go shopping - clearly because of the family connection she [Collier], was aware when her grandmother would leave - she would turn up and was slipping in.

"Her grandfather had suffered a stroke and was confined to a chair. It was only when police set up surveillance that she was caught going into a drawer in her grandfather's bedroom and taking the money from a drawer."

'They were deliberately targeted'

Mr Welch said the aggregating features in the case include the fact her grandad was in his home at the time of the burglaries.

He said: "The complainant was in the home at the time that the burglary occurred and the premises were deliberately targeted due to the vulnerability of the complainant.

"There's a degree of planning, she has attended when her grandmother is out and her grandfather is on her own."

Milly posted pictures of her "war hero" grandad on Facebook

Unemployed Collier arrived at court on Tuesday to learn her fate, having previously pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary from a dwelling and one count of theft from a person.

She was convicted of theft after being caught on a secret camera by her best friend Samanatha Wood who also noticed money going missing. Click here to read the full story here.

'Gone back multiple times'

Before Mark Savage, defending, could put forward any mitigation, Judge Paul Watson QC, Honorary Recorder of Hull, said: "You can’t claim it's a one off can you? She's gone back multiple times."

Mr Savage agreed, but said Collier was very remorseful. He blamed her need for money on the desire to "keep up with" her mother.

He said: "On behalf of Miss Collier, she can not offer and refuses to offer any excuse, what is clear, is this is a young woman not coping with life and was spending money to keep up with her mother.

"Her remorse is deep and genuine. This is a young woman who realises she has lost everything, and her grandparent's who she had an excellent relationship with.

Melissa Collier (left) and former best friend Samantha Wood (right)

"The loss of her grandparents gives her immeasurable pain, if she was able to speak to her grandparents she would express her remorse and offer to pay them back.

"It's cost her her job, her friends, her family, her self dignity, through her own actions.

"She says to the court she cannot make good what she has done, her actions will stay with her, not just her, but her elderly grandparents and her friend, forever.

"There is clearly a background history of problems between herself and her mother and she was trying to keep up with her mother in spending money she did not have and that caused this."

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'Genuine and heartfelt remorse'

The court heard that the starting point for sentencing is three years in prison, with a range of between two and six years, for one offence.

Having read to himself a letter from Collier, addressed to him, Judge Paul Watson QC said he had no doubt her remorse is "genuine and heartfelt", but pointed out it is "all very well and good after the offence".

Collier with her grandad

In an unusual move, he then sent her to prison for two nights, to allow himself time to consider her case.

Speaking directly to Mr Savage, the judge said: "Courts are required to follow the guidelines. I want to think more about your clients' case. I’ll deal with your client at 10.15am on Thursday.

"I’ll remand her until 10.15am on Thursday morning. If I deal with her now she would go straight to custody where she can go now."

He told the court his decision was not an indication of his final decision, but did not speak directly to Collier - who was crying uncontrollably as she was sent down.

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