Conman who preyed on elderly has jail term doubled
A conman who was jailed for a week-long campaign of distraction burglaries has had his 'unduly lenient' sentence doubled.
Felix Hanrahan, of Wolverhampton, travelled to the north-east of the country to commit his crimes over a few days in October and November 2015.
Working with an accomplice, the 29-year-old targeted mostly elderly and vulnerable householders, conning his way into homes.
In six days, 13 properties were hit in Houghton-le-Spring, Stanley, Lanchester, Witton Gilbert, Consett, Chester-le-Street and Gateshead.
Rooms were ransacked, the contents of drawers strewn around and, in some cases, large sums of cash taken.
Hanrahan, of Patricia Avenue, Wolverhampton, was arrested days later and was jailed for three years and nine months for the burglary conspiracy at Newcastle Crown Court in March.
But after a referral to the Court of Appeal, three senior judges ruled the sentence was too soft - and doubled it.
Hanrahan, who refused to leave his prison cell to attend the hearing, will instead serve seven-and-a-half years, the court was told.
"We agree that the sentence passed in this case was unduly lenient - and clearly so," said Lord Justice McCombe.
The London court heard the burglars had used a similar method in every one of the raids.
An offender would knock on the door and explain there had been a gas or water problem and that taps needed to be checked.
Once inside, the offender would appear to check everything was fine, while another searched for goods to steal.
In some incidents, property was taken but, in others, the householders stayed firm and sent the offenders on their way.
Hanrahan admitted his part in the plot on the basis that he was the person who knocked on the door in some incidents, and was the driver in others.
The case reached court after a reference by the attorney general, Jeremy Wright QC, on the basis that the sentence was far too lenient.
Increasing the term, Lord Justice McCombe said the fact that the conspiracy involved so many separate incidents had to be taken into consideration.
The judge, sitting with Sir Roderick Evans and Mrs Justice Nicola Davies, upped the term to seven-and-a-half years.
