'Despicable' Good Samaritan jailed for three years after conning elderly Wolverhampton couple

Mark Middleton targeted the husband, who is in his 70s, after spotting the man shopping at the Morrisons supermarket in Blaydon Road, Pendeford, a judge heard.

The 47-year-old befriended the victim after getting into conversation with him and offered to help him carry the groceries home, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

When they reached the address in nearby Rathwell Close shameless Middleton insisted on bringing goods into the house.

He was thanked for his 'help' by the man's grateful wife - also in her 70s - before Middleton showed his true colours by snatching £150 from her unattended handbag after being left him alone in a room for a few moments.

Mr Simon Rippon, prosecuting, explained: "This was a distraction burglary of a vulnerable couple.

"The husband was shopping in Morrisons when seen by the defendant who then followed and engage him in conversation.

"He purported to be of assistance to the man by taking some of the goods bought at the supermarket into the couple's home."

This was a con trick to get inside the property and stole the money as soon as he was alone in a room with the handbag.

But Middleton inadvertently gave a helping hand to police investigating the burglary by leaving his fingerprint on a carton of milk he had insisted on carrying into the address.

He had a string of previous convictions and was identified through both the forensic evidence and CCTV from the supermarket, continued Mr Rippon, who concluded: "He has an unenviable record of similar offences. On his release from custody, he immediately re engages with his occupation of burglar."

MIddleton, who defended himself, said: "I had been living with my parents and had got kicked out of their home on the day of the offence."

He conceded: "They are in their 70s and I would be gutted if somebody did to them what I did to the other couple. I want help with my drink and drug problem."

The defendant, from Heathfield Road, Handsworth, pleaded guilty to the August 21 burglary and was jailed by Judge Simon Ward who told him: "You pretended to be helpful to the pensioner you saw shopping but there was another agenda. He thought you were a Good Samaritan when really you just wanted to steal. It was a despicable crime - a deeply unpleasant offence.

"That couple will inevitably blame themselves for being too trusting. They may be unable to trust anybody after this, making them increasingly isolated and even more vulnerable."