84-year-old shopper among the victims of "pickpocket queen"

JAILED: Margaret Johnson

A "COLD-HEARTED" thief who has been convicted of more than 150 offences across the region - including several in North Solihull - is back behind bars.
Margaret Johnson, 40, had often singled out elderly shoppers and her victims included an 84-year-old woman who had her bag snatched in Aldi, Castle Bromwich.
The incident had occurred at the Chester Road supermarket on January 25, just days after Johnson had been released on licence from prison.
In a separate incident the same week, the defendant had stolen a mobile phone from a shopper at the Chelmsley Wood branch of Asda.
The two thefts were part of a spate of fresh crimes and Johnson was soon rearrested.
She appeared at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday (Friday) and was jailed for two and a half years after admitting six thefts, as well as breaching the conditions of a Criminal Behaviour Order, which had been imposed following her previous conviction.
Sergeant Julia Slater, of West Midlands Police, said: "It's hard to find words to describe Margaret Johnson.
"She deliberately targets elderly, lone female shoppers - people she considers easy targets - and when an opportunity arises she slyly swipes their bags or slips purses or mobile phones from pockets.
"Even by her own despicable standards she has stooped to new lows with these offences."