A MAN who posed as a council worker to access elderly people's homes to steal money from them has been jailed for six years.

John McDonald, aged 44, from Booth Street in Blakenhall, was discovered to have carried out a series of distraction burglaries before and after Christmas 2017, targeted at the elderly and vulnerable, after a police launched Operation Doorstop.

Detectives found McDonald had crept inside an 85-year-old woman’s home in Quarry Bank in November 2017 under the pretence of being sent to repair fencing – but then stole £3,000 in cash from a drawer when the lady’s back was turned.

He also entered an 86-year-old woman's garden in Brierley Hill claiming to be trimming a neighbour's overhanging branches and stole £2,500, while around £10,000 in cash was stolen from an 81-year-old Netherton man.

After being placed as wanted on national police systems, he was arrested on 28 February 2018 and a charged with six distraction burglaries and one count of fraud when it’s claimed he purported to be working for Severn Trent Water to gain access to an 86-year-old woman’s house in Lower Gornal.

However, prosecutors accepted his two guilty burglary pleas in relation to offences on 14 November and 7 January with the other charges withdrawn.

He was sentenced to four years in prison, plus an additional two years for a fraud in Sutton Coldfield, back in March 2015 when he took £100 from a woman after falsely claiming to have cleared her guttering, at Wolverhampton Crown Court on January 15.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Sean Lowe, described McDonald as a “merciless” thief who thought nothing of preying on elderly, vulnerable victims.

He added: “He deliberately targeted vulnerable residents, ones he believed would fall for his lies and be trusting enough to let him into their homes.

“He’s admitted three offences but we suspect he has been responsible for several more offences and deprived pensioners of their savings.

“Elderly residents are far safer knowing that McDonald is now behind bars and out of harm’s way.”

And DC Lowe urged family, friends and neighbours of elderly residents to remind them never to allow strangers into their homes.

He added: “Never allow unsolicited callers into your home – especially people arriving unannounced claiming to be a council worker, police officer or from a utility company – and use a door chain if you have one.

“Check identity badges thoroughly and if in doubt call a friend or family member for advice. ‘If in doubt, keep them out’ is a motto that people should still adhere to.”