A sneak burglar posed as a boiler engineer to trick his way into a vulnerable pensioner's home and steal from her.
Robert Bain had been released from a blackmail prison sentence on licence when he targeted the 82-year-old in her bungalow. The victim, who has mobility issues and lives alone in Whickham, Gateshead, was in her front room reading on October 30 last year when there was suddenly a loud bang on her window.
She opened her door and saw Bain, who said he was there to service her boiler and despite her saying she was not expecting him, he insisted, so she let him in. Kevin Wardlaw, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "He began looking at the radiators in the kitchen and living room then went to the rest of the bungalow and returned to the living room after five minutes.
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"He was abrupt and a little rude and said he could do nothing with the radiators today but would return. After he left, she went in her bedroom and found a search had been made of drawers in her bedside cabinet, it was a messy search."
Bain had stolen £35 from the pensioner's handbag. She said: "He has preyed on me due to my age and vulnerability."
Bain, 33, of Goshen Street, Bensham, Gateshead, who has 37 previous convictions, including seven for house burglaries, pleaded guilty to burglary. He had been released on licence after a six year prison sentence was imposed in 2018 for two offences of blackmail.
Jailing him for 45 months, Recorder Tom Moran told him: "Her vulnerability must have been immediately obvious. I'm in no doubt this house was targeted, you thinking, correctly, it was an elderly person that lived there.
"I can't improve on her words when she said she was preyed on due to her age and vulnerability. This must have had a serious effect on an 82-year-old living alone."
Jamie Adams, defending, said: "He knows it's an unpleasant offence. Fortunately he didn't offer any harm other than the fact he was there but he didn't try to frighten her. Everything was done sneakily.
"He has struggled for a number of years with his mental health."
