Prolific thief who conned pensioner with dementia jailed for two years
A prolific thief who tricked his way into the home of a pensioner with dementia was starting a two-year three-month jail sentence today.
Marc Barker made a cold call at the 86-year-old woman's address in New Invention pretending to be a plumber, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
The 39-year-old, with previous convictions involving 95 separate offences, must have very quickly realised he was dealing with a vulnerable person and took advantage of this, said Mr Edward Soulsby, prosecuting.
Barker told the victim he was trying to unblock the drain and asked her to stand by taps watching the water flow while he checked upstairs where he carried out an untidy search during which he found next to nothing.
The victim's purse was missing but it was not certain he took it and, even if he had, it only held a bus pass and handful of change.
Suspicious
The defendant was spotted acting suspiciously around the address and was identified by police after a trawl collecting CCTV footage from cameras in the area.
Mr Andrew Tucker, defending, said: "He has had a long-standing drug addiction which drove his offending but after spending six months on remand in custody while waiting for this case to resolve away from the drugs he is accustomed to taking has led to a real improvement in his health. He has achieved drug free status through his own determination."
The victim was so alarmed by the incident she did not want to be alone at home for six weeks following the crime but has now returned to living an independent life with assistance from family and friends after her confidence was restored by the introduction of CCTV cameras both inside and outside her home.
Barker, from Lewis Close, Willenhall, admitted burglary with intent to steal and was jailed by Judge James Burbidge QC who told him: "I work on the basis that you did not deliberately target the injured party.
"As soon as she answered the door you knew she was vulnerable but continued with your crime.
"You pretended to be a plumber and distracted her by saying you were there to help her when all you wanted to do was steal from her but if you stole anything it was of modest value."
The judge continued: "You are making some efforts to reduce your addiction to drugs and that will hopefully protect the community from your offending in due course."
