A "DESPICABLE" burglar who targets hospitals stole a double amputee patient's handbag from her bedside as she slept.
Richard Henderson, 39, broke into Hull Royal Infirmary at 1.30am.
The drug addict crept into Ward 7, where he stole Victoria Johnson's handbag as she was recovering from treatment.
In a victim impact statement read to Hull Crown Court, Mrs Johnson said: "I cannot believe anyone would steal from someone without any legs. I was asleep, I could have been assaulted or anything. It's worrying."
The next day, Henderson returned to the hospital and even spoke to his victim as she had a cigarette outside.
At 2am the following day, he again broke into the hospital.
He was spotted by a member of staff rifling through the jacket of a colleague in a doctor's consulting room in the Acute Assessment Unit.
She called the police and Henderson – who was on bail for another offence at the time – was caught red-handed and arrested at the scene.
Judge Mark Bury has now jailed him for five years.
The judge told Henderson: "You have had a problem with drugs over many years. While on bail you committed a despicable offence.
"You went into Ward 7 at Hull Royal Infirmary – a ward which is by no means on the ground floor – and you stole from next to the bed of a double amputee.
"You took her handbag while she was asleep.
"That is a disgusting offence, whether on drugs or not. It is no excuse and you must have realised you were in a hospital, in a ward where there were vulnerable people.
"Her wheelchair was present next to her bed. Those who steal from patients in hospital can expect no mercy from the court.
"People in hospital are the most vulnerable in our society and those who go into there at 1.30am and steal from patients there should expect long sentences, like the one you are going to get."
The court heard Henderson caused damage to a car when he was drunk on May 2. The police arrested him nearby and later released him on bail. But just hours later, in the early hours of May 3, he broke into Hull Royal Infirmary and stole the handbag.
Judge Bury spoke of his disgust that Henderson then returned to the hospital and spoke to his victim the next day.
"You must have realised that was the lady," the judge told him.
"There are significant aggravating features. Firstly, there is the vulnerability of the patients who have lost their property. Secondly, your record and, thirdly, the fact you were on bail at the time and that there are two like offences committed one day after the other."
Henderson also committed benefit fraud, stealing £6,500.
He applied for disability allowance in the name of a disabled man who was ill and infirm. His victim did not realise he was entitled to claim extra money, enabling Henderson to take it all for himself.
Henderson, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to fraud and two counts of burglary.
His barrister Jeremy Lindsey said: "This was a mean, upsetting, nasty and cynical incident, which took place at night and for which the defendant is truly sorry for.
"It is not the first time he has said it. He made clear in his police interview that he wanted to apologise to the lady. She was a double amputee and he just didn't see anything because it was dark.
There is little one can say under such circumstances when a man has committed an offence at night in a hospital. He admitted responsibility in his interview with the police."
Henderson has previous convictions for burglary, including one for breaking into Bridlington Hospital in December 2011.
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust – the organisation that manages Hull Royal Infirmary – wants to reassure patients that crime is taken very seriously.
A spokesman said: "We're continuing to work with Humberside Police to deliver a safer hospital environment for our patients, staff and visitors.
"All reported cases of theft are investigated fully both internally and externally in partnership with the police."
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