Judge Scott Wolstenholme, who jailed Basia Chapman for stealing from elderly women, hit the nail on the head when he described her crimes as “despicable”.

Chapman preyed on some of the most vulnerable and trusting members of society – people who deserve care and consideration, not this sort of disgraceful treatment.

Not only that, when she found a particularly helpless victim, she was quite prepared to mercilessly exploit them again and again – stealing eight times from one 73-year-old she had befriended and even cynically called “Grandma”.

Such cold-hearted ruthlessness is hard to believe.

Chapman also had an eye for an opportunity and would play the friend to someone in need, such as a woman who fell, if it meant she could get close enough to her victim for them to drop their guard.

On another occasion, she helped a woman with her wheelie bin, and stole £83 from her purse.

Now that Chapman is behind bars, it would be nice to think she will use the time to take a good look at herself and what she has become and try to mend her ways – including getting off drugs.

Her record, though, would suggest that is unlikely.

But at least we all now know what she looks like and the depths she is prepared to plumb should she return to a life of crime once released.