Thief invented story to steal from frail couple (From Worcester News)

Thief invented story to steal from frail couple

1:10am Sunday 21st March 2010 in

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A HOMELESS man befriended an elderly couple before stealing their pension money.

Wayne Mountford used a fake name when he first went to the victim’s home to ask about a car for sale.

The 25-year-old visited the couple a number of times, telling them his life story, before stealing £75 from inside the wife’s handbag.

Mountford pleaded guilty to theft when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Emma Lile, prosecuting, said the couple, who are in their 80s, believed Mountford - who went under the name Mark Ian - and his tall tale.

It was during his third visit that Mountford took the money. It was only after he had left that the victims discovered the pension money missing.

The husband phoned homeless charities in an attempt to find ‘Mark Ian’. A few weeks after the theft he saw Mountford in Worcester city answering to the name Wayne.

Paul Stanley, defending, told the court his client, who had initially pleaded not guilty, has a long standing heroin addiction and temptation got the better of him.

Mountford was sentenced to three months in custody.