JAILED: Crooked Sandwell window cleaner twice burgled frail widow's flat

A window cleaner who stole over £1,000 cash from a frail 86-year-old widow after targeting her on his round has been locked up for more than two years.

Joshua Woodhouse, who served with the armed forces in Afghanistan, was £6,000 in debt and desperate for money, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The 26-year-old struck after spotting the poorly sighted victim hiding the tin in which she kept a cash float in a wardrobe at the fourth-floor West Bromwich flat where she lived alone.

She was a ‘fiercely independent woman’ but her four children visited regularly and noticed her store of money had gone missing between April 20 and 26, explained Mr Paul Spratt, prosecuting.

A CCTV system was installed in a bid to identify the culprit and the camera caught Woodhouse red handed stealing more cash from the secret stash on May 17.

He took £1,000 on the first occasion but this time only got away with the £20 note left as bait by the suspicious relatives.

Mr Spratt explained: "The lady is very frail and has poor eyesight but one of her children visits every day and ensures she has enough cash to pay for services such as hairdressing, chiropody and the internal cleaning of her windows.

"The defendant gleaned information about where the money was kept and was caught stealing the £20 on an unscheduled visit.

"The CCTV showed him going straight to the wardrobe, opening the door and stealing the money. He knew where it was and needed it."

Mr Mukhtar Ubhi, defending, said Woodhouse had joined his father on the window cleaning round after having difficulty finding work after leaving the armed services.

The lawyer added: "He was £6,000 in debt and happened by chance to see where the lady put her money box.

"A demon burned inside him, telling him that some of his financial problems would be resolved if he took the cash. It was a nasty offence and gross breach of trust but he is filled with remorse and wants to repay every penny."

Woodhouse from Bleakhouse Road, Oldbury and of previous good character pleaded guilty to two burglaries of the victim's flat and was jailed for two years and one month.

Judge Nicholas Cartwright told him: "Distraction offences against elderly, vulnerable people are particularly mean and window cleaners are in a uniquely trusted position with customers, their families and neighbours.

"Who else is allowed to take ladders round to the back of people's homes, peer through their windows and have free access to flats?

"The victim had poor eyesight and you thought she would not notice what you were doing. You had time to think about what you had done but still went back, greedy for more."