A HEROIN user who conned elderly people into thinking he was collecting money for charity has been sent to jail.

Francis Edwards, aged 22, targeted vulnerable people living in sheltered accommodation, telling them he was doing a sponsored swim but then pocketed the money himself.

At Worcester Magistrates Court today, Edwards, of Willow Court, Worcester, admitted three counts of fraud, specifically dishonestly making false representations with the intention of make a gain for himself. He also asked the court to take seven similar offences into consideration.

Kiernan Cunningham, prosecuting, described the crimes as "unpleasant and unsavoury".

He said: "The amounts are towards the low end ranging from 50p to £5 but the offences are unsophisticated for the following reasons; all 10 relate to this young man conning the elderly people for what he told them was a donation to charity."

Edwards, who has 25 previous convictions, used the money to fund his heroin addiction.

Mark Turnball, defending, told the court the offence was born out of desperation.

He said: "He is a heroin user and has been for the past six years. He tells me he uses a considerable amount, around six bags a day."

The bench heard that at the age of 14 Edwards discovered he was adopted, a revelation which lead to him falling out with his family and eventually becoming homeless.

Mr Turnball said: "By his own description his behaviour began to get out of control.

"He is a man who has a very difficult and challenging number of years, but he has in no way attempted to blame his past experiences. He takes full responsibility for his actions."

Mr Turnball asked the magistrates to adjourn the case and consider a community punishment with a drug rehabilitation requirement.

However, the bench deemed the offence "so serious that only custody is appropriate". After 10 minutes deliberation they decided to send Edwards to jail for a total of four months.