THEY had come to England from Eastern Europe to seek a better life.
But illiterate cousins Angelika and Eva Goran turned to crime.
And the pair were hauled before a court yesterday after preying on a 71-year-old Huddersfield pensioner, who was mourning the death of her sister.
Polish immigrants Angelika and Eva Goral, 25 and 28 respectively, who stole the pensioner's purse, were barred from Huddersfield town centre for two years after the hearing at Huddersfield Magistrates' Court.
The cousins were given Anti Social Behaviour Orders which banned them from entering the town centre or causing alarm, distress or harassment to anyone in England and Wales for two years.
The pair, who live in Leeds and have four children apiece, admitted travelling to Huddersfield on December 21 last year with the intention of stealing.
Prosecutor Carol Lawford told the court how a pensioner shopping in Wilkinson's in New Street was trailed by the pair, who don't speak English.
Her bag was unzipped and they stole her purse and fled. A suspicious shop worker raised the alarm.
CCTV was used to track them. They were picked up stowing their jackets, which were later found to contain £35.
The pensioner's purse was never found. A statement by the distraught woman was read out.
Mr Mark Newell for the women, said his clients emigrated to the UK for a better life for themselves and their families but were ill-equipped to integrate with the local community quickly.
Angelika Goral was sentenced to an 18-month community order to include 180 hours of unpaid work, while Eva Goral was handed a 12-month order and 150 hours. Both were ordered to pay a total of £50 compensation each to the victim for the loss of the purse and the contents and the "pain, suffering and distress caused."
