'My whole life has been ripped apart': Conman who targeted elderly women is jailed

Distraction burglar Phillip Purcell struck three times in five days, posing as a workman to trick his way into the deliberately targeted homes of women aged between 87 and 79, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The 22-year-old – and an accomplice who has not been caught – stole handbags from two of the victims but were sent packing empty handed by the third.

Purcell who had previous convictions for similar offences involving people aged 90 and 88 called at the 87-year-old's flat in Deans Road, East Park on August 20.

"He knocked on a window and she thought it was the paper boy," said Mr Philip Brunt, prosecuting.

"Then she heard somebody say something about there being problems with the drains and needing to get into her home.

"She let the two men in and they went through to the living room where they remained for around 10 minutes. Then a neighbour who kept an eye on the lady who lived there saw them acting suspiciously and told them to get out."

After they left the woman discovered that her handbag, with £60 cash inside it, had been stolen.

It also contained the only picture she had of herself with two brothers who both died young.

"I carried it round with me all the time," she later told police. "This has left me very angry and feeling extremely vulnerable."

Five days later Purcell posed as a council workman when he called at an address in Baldwin Street, Bradley where the 79-year-old occupant walked with the aid of a frame.

Mr Brunt continued: "The two men asked to come in and she tried to follow them as they went through her home to the back garden."

When they had gone she realised that two handbags containing an unspecified amount of money were missing. She said later: "I feel my whole life has been ripped apart and every night pray to God that I do not wake up the next morning."

The same day Purcell's bid to get away with more cash after offering to clean the gutters another disabled woman in nearby Walter Road was foiled by the eagle-eyed 82-year-old who kept a close watch on him before showing him the way out.

She explained: "As soon as I got the chain off the door I felt there was something wrong with the chap."

Miss Jodie Smith, defending, said: "He accepts the impact his actions had on the victims and appreciates the great deal of harm that has been done.

"He apologises, for what that is worth. His life has been marred by an addiction to cocaine."

Purcell from Valley Road, Smethwick, who was traced after a public appeal, admitted the three burglaries and was sent to prison by Judge Michael Challinor.