Callous thief stole from disabled OAP

‘WINDOW CLEANER’TOOK IRREPLACEABLE ITEMS

Court Reporter DESPICABLE Daniel McGill posed as a window cleaner to trick his way into the home of a disabled 80-year-old woman and steal from her.

The bully deliberately targeted the woman because of her frailty after turning up at her Gateshead bungalow.

A court heard McGill walked in uninvited, got a drink using a plastic cup then started washing windows without being asked.

The 36-year-old demanded a £4 payment from the pensioner, who is profoundly deaf, has poor eyesight, restricted mobility and communicates using sign language then stole precious property, including i r r e p l a c e a b l e j e w e l l e r y belonging to the victim’s mother.

The lowlife had gone before the victim realised her personal belongings had been taken but was tracked down after his DNA was found on the cup he had used.

Jailing McGill for four years at Newcastle Crown Court, Recorder William Lowe QC told him: “I am sure you targeted this woman because of her frailty.

“She was 80 years of age, profoundly deaf, without speech, in general poor health, had poor eye sight and was not able to walk very much at all.

“You presented yourself at her door with a bucket.

“You bullied your way in and you abused her by stealing from her property of immense sentimental value. None of the property was recovered, it has gone forever.

“This is a very grave offence and it demands grave punishment.”

Prosecutor Tony Cornberg told the court McGill had turned up at the woman’s door in Deckham, Gateshead, with a bucket on April 19.

Mr Cornberg said: “He pointed to the bucket, indicating he needed water, she thought.

“She said he just walked in, went to her kitchen and filled up his bucket with water.

“He then also drank from a plastic cup, which he then left on the bench.”

The victim tried to keep a constant watch on McGill when he started to wash her windows but needed to sit down for periods, which meant he was left unsupervised. Mr Cornberg said: “He asked for £4 by rubbing his fingers together then holding up four fingers.”

It was after the pensioner paid that she realised jewellery and purses had been taken and contacted the police.

Mr Cornberg added: “He was ultimately identified by DNA from the cup he drank from and left on the bench.”

The pensioner said in a victim statement: “This has had a dramatic effect on my confidence. “I don’t like to go out of the house now and will not answer the door after 4pm.

“Two of the items stolen, a watch and necklace, were the last things I had left that belonged to my mother. They had huge sentimental value.

“I would just like to know whey he picked on me, whether it was due to me being deaf.”

McGill, of Warwick Court, Gateshead, who has previous convictions, admitted burglary.

Shaun Routledge, defending, said McGill has recently been diagnosed with health problems and has been out of trouble for a long period before he committed this offence. Heartless Daniel McGill stole from a prfoundly deay and partially-sighted 80-year-old woman