TWO young Devizes women were given conditional discharges after admitting stealing £30 from a vulnerable man.

Teresa Wright, 19, of Bricksteed Avenue, pleaded guilty to stealing the cash from the schizophrenic man, an outpatient at Green Lane psychiatric hospital, while she was visiting his room at a house in Long Street on September 12 last year.

She admitted splitting the money with her friend Hannah Abada, 20, of Westview Crescent, who admitted receiving the £15, knowing it to have been stolen.

Wright told police she had been drinking when she went to the man's room, said Becky Abbott, prosecuting.

Abada had joined her shortly afterwards and witnessed her go to a drawer in the room and take out the cash.

Wright spent her half of the money buying credits for her mobile phone while Abada bought food and drink. They both admitted the theft when arrested and offered to pay the money back.

Emma Wrench, defending, said: "Both these women are vulnerable themselves and are ashamed of what they have done.

"They accept it is despicable to take advantage of this man the way they did. They couldn't explain why they did it, although they are both short of funds."

The two women each received a nine-month conditional discharge and were each ordered to pay £15 compensation to the man.