A prolific burglar who targeted a vulnerable 91-year-old pensioner has been sent to prison for entering her home uninvited and taking £30 from her purse.

Ambrose Treeby tried to run away from police in his boxers but was later found hiding in a bush before being arrested.

He has seven previous convictions for 20 offences and visited his victim at her flat pretending to be concerned about an ill neighbour before swiping the money when the woman went to check on her dinner.

Treeby, of Queen Street, Paddock Wood, went to a property on September 15 in Sevenoaks where he spoke to the victim, who was home alone, and pretended to show concern for a neighbour who was taken to hospital.

The 40-year-old, who was stood at the front door, stepped into the property and asked his victim if she could get a pen and write down the neighbour’s number.

Despite going to get a pen and giving him the number, the woman said Treeby “looked agitated” and didn’t take the number down properly.

Treeby then asked the pensioner, who is registered disabled, if she could change some money up – something the court heard was an attempt to find out if she had any money to steal – before the woman went to the kitchen briefly to check on her dinner.

When she returned she said Treeby was still agitated and quickly made an excuse to leave. The victim soon realised a £20 and £10 note had been taken from her purse.

The elderly woman went round her flat back to ask others if something had happened to them and some revealed a man matching Treeby’s description had knocked on their doors.

After reporting the incident to police, Treeby was tracked down due to ANPR cameras and his mobile phone data. After being told to stop by a police officer a few days later he made off before stopping when being told the officer had a Taser.

He was positively identified by the victim during an ID parade. He gave a no comment interview.

Prosecutor Christina Rowberry detailed how Treeby was jailed in 2013 for a violent burglary as well as being convicted in 2018, 2021 and 2023 for similar offences.

‘He has a history of targeting vulnerable adults...’

She said: “These were all of a very similar behaviour. He has a history of targeting vulnerable adults.”

In a victim impact statement, Treeby’s elderly victim said she had been left “embarrassed” that she had been conned and feared others would think she was stupid for falling for the con.

She explained how she understands people have difficult circumstances but coming into someone’s home to steal was completely wrong.

Samuel Glanville, defending, told Judge Robert Lazarus, Treeby had written a letter to the court.

It said he felt “sorry and ashamed” for causing someone pain and that his focus should have been on his children.

Mr Glanville said since being sent to prison, Treeby had completed several courses including financing and budget, life skills, food safety and emotional coping.

Judge Lazarus said this was a “cynical and pointless” offence which added to Treeby’s “appalling list of antecedents” and that he wasn’t confident of the criminal’s ability to turn himself around.

Treeby was sentenced to two years and 146 days in prison.

He must also pay his victim £228 in compensation.

Detective Constable Rosie Acton said: “Ambrose Treeby is a callous and heartless induvial, who within just a week of being released from prison for similar offending, has once again preyed upon a victim he perceived would be vulnerable and easy pickings.

“Sadly, people like Treeby target older people because they are often more trusting. They exploit them in the worst possible way without a single thought to the devastating impact their crimes have on their victims’ confidence and wellbeing.”