A DISABLED 94-year-old woman from Evesham was a victim of a burglar who preyed on old people throughout the Midlands.

John Casey, aged 36, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court last Friday to three charges of burglary and charges of deception and attempted deception and asked for three other offences to be taken into consideration. He was jailed for five years.

Naomi Gilchrist, prosecuting, said the disabled 94-year-old who lived in sheltered accommodation in St Mary's Road, Evesham, had left her front door unlocked so she could call to visitors to come in because she had difficulty getting to the door to answer it.

On March 21 she discovered that £1,570 in cash had been stolen from a tin in her bedside cabinet.

Police found Casey's fingerprints on an envelope in the tin.

Miss Gilchrist told the court that Casey's other victims were from Birmingham, Leicester and Rugby.

They all involved Casey obtaining entry to the homes of very elderly people on various pretexts and taking money.

Alex Jacobs, for Casey, who was said to be living in a caravan on a farm in Warwickshire, said: "He now apologises and feels bitterly remorseful for what he did."

But Judge Marten Coates retorted: "Or bitterly sorry for getting caught. It is hard to think there is any remorse."

He told Casey: "The offences you chose to commit are among the meanest which can be carried out."