Conman jailed for

‘Predator’ stole from people in own homes

HIS “predatory” crime spree stretched across half the city and left elderly and vulnerable people “fearful” in their own homes.

But today, 36-year-old James McCafferty is behind bars after he was finally brought to justice for his sickening acts. The conman visited the homes of disabled, housebound and elderly people and used various bogus excuses to gain entry and steal from them.

Police launched a public appeal to track him down after he emerged as the main suspect in a number of the crimes. He managed to escape capture for weeks before he was finally caught — but not before he had left his victims feeling “violated”.

It emerged later that he had been released from a prison sentence only weeks earlier for virtually identical crimes, and may have been sleeping rough around Stobswell or the Hilltown.

McCafferty — a prisoner at HMP Grampian — has now admitted his crimes at Dundee Sheriff Court, and has been jailed for three years and three months.

Sentencing him, Sheriff Alastair Carmichael branded him “predatory”, adding: “You have a bad record and some of those offences are for the same kind of thing.”

Fiscal depute Charmaine Gilmartin told the court the victims’ ages ranged from 56 to 81.

One of McCafferty’s first victims was 67 and described by police as lonely and naive. He was a keen gambler who regularly placed bets at Ladbrokes on Arbroath Road.

McCafferty went to the man’s