Two prostitutes who robbed an OAP as he walked home from his 80th birthday celebrations have been jailed.

Francis Librari had been at a social club in Preston before leaving to catch a bus home when he was robbed by Gayle Oakey, 42, and Amanda Small, 42.

As Mr Librari, who had only had a pint and a half of lager, made his way towards the bus stop in St Mary’s Street, off Ribbleton Lane, the women approached him from behind and grabbed an arm each, before rifling through his pockets.

Three men in a passing car heard the pensioner call out, shouting ‘they are robbing me’ and two sisters stopped their vehicle to help.

Mr Librari sat in the women’s car to recover from his ordeal but discovered his mobile phone was missing.

The police were called and the pair were arrested in the days that followed.

Both pleaded guilty to robbery and appeared at Preston Crown Court to be sentenced.

Oakey also admitted burgling her next door neighbour over Christmas, stripping his flat of its contents including the kettle, toaster, shower curtain, pole and toiletries from the bathroom.

Judge Ian Leeming, sentencing, said: “This robbery was a joint offence against a vulnerable pensioner who had just celebrated his 80th birthday.

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“After this robbery he said ‘I am scared to go out on my own and to leave my house at night. I now rely on my son to go and perform tasks on my behalf.’

“Overall this night has had a massive impact on his life.”

He jailed Oakey, of Beachley Road, Ingol, for 34 months and Small, of Avenham Road, Preston, for 23 months.