A WOMAN with an "appalling" record is behind bars  for snatching a disabled man's savings while an accomplice pinned him to the floor.

Alisha Teal was criticised by a judge for refusing to name her mystery partner in crime or reveal what had happened to the bulk of the cash they stole.

Teal knew the 74-year-old victim and was aware that he kept thousands of pounds in moneybags under a pillow in a bedroom at his home in Hartlepool.

On January 5, Teal and the unknown man turned up at the pensioner's home at night after plotting to take his savings, Teesside Crown Court heard.

When he opened the door, the elderly and vulnerable householder was punched in the face and knocked over, and the man pinned him down with his foot.

Teal rushed past to a bedroom, grabbed £7,000 and fled, leaving the victim on the floor with a cut nose and bruises, said prosecutor Harry Hadfield.

When the 30-year-old was later arrested at home, police found £140 on the arm of a sofa and £940 in £20 notes was stuffed inside her thermal leggings.

The rest of the cash - almost £6,000 - has never been recovered, but Teal claims it was in her home when she was evicted and must have been stolen.

Teal, of Kerr Grove, Hartlepool, admitted theft and was jailed for 33 months.

The court heard that today's (Tuesday, March 26) was her 16th appearance for offences of dishonesty - mostly thefts, but also a robbery and handling stolen goods.

Judge Michael Taylor branded Teal's record "appalling" and told the heroin user: "You knew this vulnerable man had a substantial amount of cash.

"The two of you forced your way into his property with some man-handling. It was an offence committed at night and in the victim's home."

He told Teal's barrister, Paul Abrahams: "She has taken no steps to assist in identifying the other person and the money has not been recovered."

Mr Abrahams said Teal was battling her drug addiction and hopes to return to work as a receptionist when she is freed from her latest jail term.