A Lowestoft couple stole a wallet that contained £600 from a vulnerable man with learning difficulties after going to his home late at night, a court has heard.

The couple had previously been regular visitors to the 66-year-old victim’s home and had often asked to borrow money from him but never paid it back, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

On May 26 last year, Leon Daws and Kelly Buckley visited the victim and Daws was given £20 and Buckley £30 by the victim after asking to borrow money from him.

They returned to the victim’s home in Lowestoft at about 11pm and after letting them in the victim was punched in the face by Daws who accused him of "trying it on" with Buckley.

After the couple left, the victim discovered his wallet containing £600 was missing.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said Daws and Buckley had taken advantage of him and he never wanted to see them again.

It said: "I’m harmless and I hate what happened to me.

"They live so close I’m worried I might not be safe."

Daws, 51, of Burnham Way, Lowestoft, admitted theft and two offences of assault.

He was jailed for 15 months but as he has served the equivalent of a 15-month sentence on remand he is likely to be released from prison immediately.

Buckley, 35, of Essex Road, Lowestoft, admitted theft and was given a 15-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, a 12-month drug rehabilitation order and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

She was also banned from contacting the victim of the theft for two years. 

Sentencing the pair Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley said the victim was "an older vulnerable man".

Andrew Thompson, for Daws, said he'd gone to the victim's house late at night on May 26 to confront him about information he believed to be true and that had led to the assault.

Robert Pollington, for Buckley, said his client had been misusing drugs at the time of the offence and had mental health needs.