Social inquiry and drug reports have been ordered by a magistrate into the background of a "con artist" who admitted last week to defrauding a charity worker and senior citizens ? including one with a degenerative brain disorder ? out of more than $45,000.

Crown counsel Wayne Caines read out a list of nearly two dozen charges against 28-year-old Loutiqua Ann Phillips involving dishonesty and cheque fraud, uttering false cheques, false representation, and using false handwritten notes to obtain money from various people's bank accounts.

The charges involved four separate victims including activist Sheelagh Cooper of the Coalition for the Protection of Children and senior citizens Elizabeth Morse Brown, Francis Mallory and famed writer Brian Burland who lives at Westmeath Residential & Nursing Home.

"In November, 2005, Mrs. Morse Brown checked into the Clearwater Guest apartment," Mr. Caines told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo. "Miss Phillips called her and said she was an employee of the Bank of Bermuda, and Mrs. Morse Brown owed her $35.

"When Mrs. Morse Brown said she didn't know what Miss Phillips was talking about, Miss Phillips said she had a friend in the Police force, Ann Phillips, who may be able to help."

The real police officer named Ann Phillips was contacted by Mrs. Morse Brown, and the officer suggested a sting operation to catch Phillips.

Phillips had arranged for Mrs. Morse Brown to meet her at Albouy's Point to hand over the $35 cheque. She was caught red handed with a partially made out withdrawal slip with Mrs. Brown's information on it.

"Phillips told police it was 'a joke that got out of proportion'," said Mr. Caines. "She said 'I never intended to steal no money like that. I just wanted to get a little bit close to her because my fianc? did some work for her."

The prosecutor said Phillips wanted to get some more work for her fianc? and told Police she "wasn't trying to take anything from her", adding: "That's why the cheque wasn't made out to me, and it was only $35."

Mr. Caines said that Phillips telephoned Mr. Burland in October and explained her nephew needed money for bail.

Phillips picked up Mr. Burland from Westmeath and drove him to the bank, where he withdrew $1,000 from his bank account. Later, he realised what he had done and telephoned the police.

Phillips also forged several Bank of Bermuda cheques in Ms Cooper's name and had a local gas station employee cash them. After he cashed three cheques for her, he became suspicious and reported her.

She also withdrew money from the account of Ms Cooper, using a false handwritten note. In total she stole $24,285.80 from Ms Cooper.

In the matter of retiree Francis Mallory, Phillips was the unwelcome guest that would not leave.

"Miss Phillips told Mr. Mallory that she was between homes, and could she stay for two weeks," said Mr. Caines. "At the end of two weeks she didn't seem to be moving out."

He later discovered that more than $9,700 had been debited from his bank account through forged cheques.

On April 29 he discovered two more cheques of more than $9,800 had been withdrawn from his account. In total, Phillips stole $19,570.80 from Mr. Mallory.

"The defendant is a con-artist who preys on the elderly and the vulnerable," Mr. Caines told Senior Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo. "She has a penchant for targeting senior citizens.

"My suggestion to your honour is that she is a thief and should be treated as such. She should not be the beneficiary of a social inquiry report based on the hideous nature of her crimes."

In September 2002, Phillips was convicted of conning another senior citizen out of more than $19,000.

Phillips' lawyer, Elizabeth Christopher said that her client should be "dealt with in a specific way in another court. Any decision that the court does make should be an enlightened decision".

Phillips will appear again for mention on October 10, and will be sentenced on December 12.