A rogue handyman from Wolverhampton who preyed on vulnerable elderly victims has been jailed for eight years.

Michael Merrick befriended pensioners in Wednesfield and offered to cut their grass before returning to their homes and stealing cash and irreplaceable belongings.

He even stole a treasured photograph of an 83-year-old’s dead husband.

The 23-year-old heroin addict made off with £100 from one elderly victim, and robbed an elderly woman of store cards, cash and the last photograph ever taken of her beloved husband.

Victim impact statements were read out to Wolverhampton Crown Court, telling of the victims’ despair and anguish since the robberies.

The attacks started in October, when Merrick knocked on the door of an 87-year-old whom he knew after going to the house earlier to cut the grass.

He got inside by asking for a cigarette, before stealing a wallet with £100 in it.

Days later, he rang the doorbell at a house and told an 83-year-old woman she had overpaid him by £5 for cutting her grass.

After tricking his way in, he made off with ID, store cards, £20 in cash and other household items, including a picture of her dead husband.

On November 8, he saw an 82-year-old withdraw £100 from a cash machine outside Lloyds TSB in Wednesfield High Street, grabbed the money from him and ran off.

Mr Warren Stainer, prosecuting, said: “The victim who lost her personal belongings, including the picture of her late husband, says she finds it hard to trust people now.

Merrick, of Wodensfield Tower, Wednesfield, pleaded guilty to theft, robbery and burglary.

Mr John Roe, defending, said: “He has been addicted to heroin, as well as other drugs, and it’s been a blight on his life.”