A DISTRACTION burglar who has preyed on the elderly and disabled for more than 14 years is once again facing jail.

It took less than 30 minutes for a jury at Oxford Crown Court to find serial conwoman Janet Lestrade, of Balfour Road, guilty of yet another burglary.

Since the 1990s, the 43-year-old has lied her way into vulnerable people’s homes to steal money on a total of 18 separate occasions.

Most of her victims were elderly people in and around Blackbird Leys, including a man in a wheelchair and a widower who handed over his life savings. One 83-year-old Oxford pensioner died just days after Lestrade conned him out of his pension.

This time round she has been convicted of duping a 63-year-old artist with serious heath problems into letting her into his home by pretending to be interested in his artwork.

Terry Andersohn, of Trefoil Place, Blackbird Leys, suffers from cerebral malaria, asthma, and has a heart condition, Oxford Crown Court heard.

Lestrade turned up at his door in July this year and pretended she knew him, before convincing the frail artist to let her in so she could steal his wallet and 100 euros.

Her excuse – that he had given her money to buy brandy from a nearby shop – unravelled when she was stopped by police with shopping bags full of beer, cider, chocolate and tobacco.

Lestrade told the jury she had committed her previous burglaries to fund a heroin addiction, but she had now kicked the habit.

She said: “Terry kept saying ‘I bet you wouldn’t mind a bit of brandy in that coffee?’ “So I thought he wanted me to go to the shop and get some brandy.

“He also asked me to go to the shop and get some groceries.”

Prosecutor Meyrick Williams told Lestrade she was a “habitual con artist”.

He said: “On this occasion you used all the experience that you gained over the years to con your way into the house and steal from Mr Andersohn.

“I suggest that you see the old people of Blackbird Leys as your private bank account. When you need some money you go to their homes and help yourself.”

Judge Gordon Risius told the defendant she would “almost inevitably” receive a substantial jail sentence when she returns to the court on January 15.

After the verdict, Pc Darren Little, said: “It is good that she has been found guilty.

“She targeted elderly and vulnerable victims and for that reason sometimes it can be hard to get the cases successfully through court.

“But on this occasion the jury saw through her lies.”

Mr Andersohn was left in a state of shock and confusion when Lestrade burgled his home.

She tricked her way into his house in Trefoil Place, Oxford, on July 20 this year at about 1.30pm by pretending to be an art enthusiast.

Mr Andersohn said: “She told me she was an artist.

“What she failed to mention is that she’s a con artist.”

The 63-year-old said he was so upset by the incident that he had counselling in the run-up to the trial and was nervous about giving evidence.

“It was hard, but I felt like I need to take a stand,” he said.

“My main concern was that I have a problem with my memory at times and I thought that would go against me. I thought I might be seen as not a good witness.”

Mr Andersohn said he read about the elderly gentleman who died after being conned by Lestrade and was determined to try to stop her.

He said: “The police were overjoyed by the verdict, because they have been trying to get her for so long. In the end it was the fingerprints she left on my cup of coffee which got her.

“The way she spoke when she came round you would think we were old friends.

“It was like she was reading from a well-rehearsed script she had read many times before.

“Now I’m not sure if I’m sad or glad she’s facing prison, because I’m happy she’s been found guilty but I don’t really want to be responsible for anyone ending up in jail.”