A shameless thief snatched the purse of an elderly disabled woman after sneaking into a residential home and within days stole cash from a blind woman, a court heard.

Roy Scott grabbed 91-year-old Christina Lloyd’s purse from her walking frame at Brennan House in Victoria Street, Gillingham.

After targeting his second victim, Pauline Stephenson, the 32-year-old drug addict returned to her Chatham home and impersonated a police office before trying to convince her he was not responsible for stealing from her.

The “three strikes” burglar was jailed for three years and four months after a judge told him: “On any view these were mean and nasty offences which saw you preying on vulnerable victims.”

“The offences were calculated to inflict particular trauma on your victims due to their unfortunate circumstances. Frankly, there is little mitigation" - Judge David Griffith-Jones QC

Prosecutor Mary Jacobson said Mrs Lloyd, who has poor sight, was standing in the doorway of her first floor flat leaning on her walking aid on June 10 when Scott approached her.

“He said he was the cleaner,” Miss Jacobson told Maidstone Crown Court. “He lifted the lid of her frame and took her purse containing £40.

“He walked off. She went to a neighbour’s flat and told her. The warden called the police.”

CCTV footage showed Scott lurking outside before following in a visitor.

A week later he was one of two men who went to Miss Stephenson’s home to fit a new washing machine. They were not able to complete it and said they would return.

The next morning Scott went back and told the victim he would finish the fitting. At one point she heard him coming out of her bedroom.

He asked for a cup of tea. Miss Stephenson gave him £50 due but later discovered he had stolen £180 and ring from her handbag.

Later that day he went back again, knocked on the door and declared: “It’s the police.”

“It was after police had spoken to him,” said Miss Jacobson. “He said he hadn’t stolen any money and wanted an apology.”

The company supplying the washing machine stated Scott was not a regular employee and there was no reason for him to return to the house.

The father-of-two, of Luton High Street, Chatham, admitted two offences of burglary and one of impersonating a police officer.

Craig Evans, defending, said the greatest mitigation was the guilty pleas, saving vulnerable victims from having to give evidence in court.

“He needs to change his ways and stop this cycle of offending,” he said. “The underlying factor has been heroin abuse. He has sought to address it in custody.”

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said Scott had a depressing record of dishonesty, having committed two previous house burglaries.

The judge added: “The offences were calculated to inflict particular trauma on your victims due to their unfortunate circumstances.

“Frankly, there is little mitigation. You have expressed some remorse but given your history it is difficult to take that at face value.”

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