A callous fraudster who stole from elderly and vulnerable pensioners after tricking his way into their homes has been jailed for four years and four months.

Ambrose Treeby cold-called his victims before committing several “distraction” burglaries.

The 33-year-old criminal, who has been punished previously for similar offences, preyed on a 92-year-old woman twice, fleecing her of £800.

The first was on September 1, 2016, when he knocked on her door in Woodlands Road, Aylesford, claiming to be from the local housing association.

Treeby, of Queen Street, Paddock Wood, told the victim she had a problem with her telephone.

Once inside he searched rooms before taking £500. Six days later, he returned claiming he needed to remove a fridge.

He asked the woman to make him a hot drink and after he left she discovered a further £300 had been taken.

An woman, 89, was also twice targeted by Treeby at her home in Barden Road, Tonbridge.

On the first occasion, on August 18, 2016, he pestered her to give him £40 to take away a mattress in her garden.

She gave him the money, but the mattress was never removed.

Returning on September 6, 2016, Treeby made the woman sign a blank cheque, claiming he worked with the local council and had come to clear up a rat problem.

The police were informed and the cheque was stopped.

Other victims were targeted in Tenterden, as well as Rye in East Sussex, where he had previously stolen from a victim he assaulted in 2009.

Treeby was arrested on September 21 last year after he was spotted acting suspiciously outside a 92-year-old potential victim’s home in Aylesford.

Treeby, who has four previous convictions for 11 offences, admitted four burglaries and one attempted burglary. He denied two charges of fraud and an attempted burglary, and they were left on the court file.

He was on licence from prison at the time of the offences, having been jailed for six years in February 2013 for aggravated burglary.

Passing sentence at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday, Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said: “These were deception burglaries involving significant planning.

"Ambrose Treeby is a despicable and callous individual" - DS Suzie Basford

“You went equipped to commit the offences by dressing and having items with you to enable your deception to be taken forward.”

He added that Treeby’s only real mitigation was his guilty pleas, but it was difficult to accept he had shown genuine remorse, given his criminal history.

Detective Sergeant Suzie Basford said: "Ambrose Treeby is a despicable and callous individual who has shown no regard whatsoever for the huge distress and anxiety he has caused to his many victims.

"He has deliberately targeted the frail and vulnerable; tricking his way into their homes before stealing any money he could get his hands on.

"The consequences of his actions left his victims living in real fear, one of whom has sadly now passed away.

"I hope the fact he is now behind bars and unable to target further victims, will at least provide some reassurance to all those affected by Treeby’s crimes."