A judge lashed out at three young Romanian women who have all notched up criminal records after being in the country for just 15 months.

Recorder Heather Baucher jailed Argentina Sava, 20, Anashora Anghel, 21, and Creata Roskas, 19, from North Downs Crescent in New Addington, after they admitted stealing £60 from a vulnerable man.

Senekah Anson, prosecuting, said Stuart Miall, who works two days a week in a charity shop and has special needs, was walking in the Croydon town centre on February 12 when the three women started following him. The court was told he quickened his pace because he felt they were going to steal from him.

He said that Sava grabbed Mr Miall's hands tightly from the back and tugged at the rucksack on his shoulder. When a member of the public intervened, Sava let go and walked away. It was then the 29-year-old man realised his wallet was missing. A community support officer turned up and Sava returned the wallet, but without the money.

The other two women walked off but were followed and the trio were arrested and taken to South Norwood police station.

A search of Sava revealed the £60 in her bra. She admitted stealing it and added that she knew the victim had special needs and she wanted to take advantage of him. All three eventually pleaded guilty to theft. Sava also admitted a charge of common assault.

The three women have previous convictions for various offences, including theft, begging, causing a child to beg and disorderly behaviour. Anghel was jailed for six weeks in December for shoplifting, and Sava had a conditional discharge for biting someone during an incident at a branch of Blockbuster video.

All three have children and Sava is pregnant. Sava was jailed for 10 months and the other two for eight months each. When they were sentenced, they screamed and shouted. They could still be heard making a din as they were on the way to the cells.

The judge said: "They have only been in this country 15 months and seem to have been very busy."

And she added: "They abused the privilege of the freedom which members of other countries would welcome."