Conmen preyed on woman aged 82

A conman posed as a roofer to get into the home of an elderly woman and rifle through her purse.

John Lewis Connors called at the 82-year-old’s Hinckley home with an accomplice and said her roof needed repairing.

He said he would do it for just £20, but while his “colleague” was discussing the work in the back garden the 20-year-old disappeared inside.

Connors, of Gable Close, Solihull, helped himself to the £20 she had set aside as payment and rifled through her purse, which she had hidden under a cushion in the lounge, to steal about £65.

He admitted committing the burglary, on October 11, 2016.

Priya Bakshi, prosecuting at Leicester Crown Court, said the elderly woman had limited mobility and had answered the door using a walking frame.

She had carers regularly visiting but was still living independently.

What happened left her shocked, upset and feeling foolish, said Miss Bakshi.

Both defendants were arrested in their van after the theft, but the case of Connors’ accomplice has been transferred to a difference court as he faced other matters elsewhere.

Sentencing Connors, Judge Martin Hurst said: “This was a sophisticated distraction burglary.

“Having knocked at the victim’s door you would have readily appreciated she was elderly and using a walking frame.

“That was your opportunity to say ‘ maybe not this house, or this vulnerable victim’.”

Lucy Jones, mitigating, said: “He was just 19 at the time and it was an isolated and out-of-character offence.

“References speak well of him as a hard working manual labourer doing painting, decorating and roofing.

“He had just become married, his wife was expecting their first child and he felt under pressure as the breadwinner.”

The judge sentenced Connors to two years and nine months detention.