80-year-old woman drugs and robs men she met through dating adverts

'Predatory Pensioner' allegedly mixed lorazepam into victims' food before stealing gadgets and jewellery worth thousands from them

(Getty Images)

An 80-year-old woman allegedly drugged and robbed several men she met through lonely hearts adverts in local newspapers, according to Polish police.

The pensioner, named as Janina M, was arrested by officers in southern Poland after she allegedly mixed the psychotropic anxiety drug lorazepam into her victims’ food, before stealing valuable items from their homes and escaping without a trace.

In one instance she is said to have stolen over £1,500-worth of gadgets, jewellery and money from a 78-year-old man who invited her to his home in Szczurow, according to BBC News.

One of the woman’s victims complained to his doctor of dizziness and blood tests revealed the presence of lorazepam, leading to a six-month investigation.

The octogenarian, who quickly won over the affections of her victims through flirtatious behaviour and who has since been dubbed 'The Predatory Pensioner', was eventually arrested after being caught committing a similar crime.

The pensioner was described by a prosecutor as “a nice old lady at first glance” - slim, with carefully applied make-up and an attractive haircut.

Local police quickly compiled evidence against the woman, which showed she had used the same technique to entrap a series of lovers in their 70s and 80s.

"I'd never have imagined this lady was capable of doing something like this, nor that she's 80," said district prosecutor Andrzej Lesniak.

The woman had nine previous convictions for theft and fraud and had been nicknamed “The Predatory Pensioner” by local people, according to investigators.

She has denied any wrongdoing, claiming she never been to Szczurow and denied robbing the 78-year old man.

The 80-year-old faces up to 20 years behind bars if she is found guilty in court, due to the perceived high risk of reoffending.