A burglar who preyed on the elderly and vulnerable after conning his way into their homes has been jailed for six years.

Marcus Blake targeted four pensioners and made off with cash and jewellery from homes in Imperial Drive, Warden Bay, Sheppey, Guardian Court, Gillingham, Playstool Road, Newington, and Elizabeth Court, Gillingham, between September 19 and 29 last year.

The 26-year-old repeat offender offered to do gardening for one victim, aged 75, with mobility problems.

He rushed around her home and when he left her purse containing about £500 was missing.

Prosecutor David Parvin said Blake also targeted a 96-year-old woman who was partially deaf and blind.

He flashed an ID card at her, claiming he was from a security firm and stating she had been burgled. He left quickly after taking her purse and a necklace.

Blake claimed to be a carer when stealing £100 and a wedding ring belonging to the late husband of his third victim, aged 83.

In the final offence on September 29, he told a wheelchair-bound 93-year-old woman he was from the water board and needed access to her home. He then stole jewellery.

He later sold some of the jewellery at The Money Shop in Gillingham High Street.

Blake, of Gillingham Road, Gillingham, admitted four offences of burglary and two of fraud. He also admitted two offences of driving while disqualified and being in breach of a suspended sentence.

He was jailed for 32 months in 2015 for similar distraction burglaries.

Jason Dunn-Shaw, defending, said Blake had been living with his girlfriend Megan Goodchild, who was pregnant with his child, in Minster Road, Minster.

He had been involved in a gang in London supplying cannabis and wanted no more to do with it. He moved to Kent but developed an addiction to cocaine.

Judge Adele Williams said when sentencing Blake on Friday: “To target old and vulnerable victims is a particularly mean and despicable crime.

“You would have caused them enormous distress. They would continue to feel unsafe and vulnerable in their homes. They would not be able to trust anyone and feel their independence is lost.

“You are 26 and already have a bad record. You deliberately targeted vulnerable victims.”

Blake was banned from driving for five years and seven months and will have to take an extended test before being allowed back on the road.