9:50pm Sunday 7th March 2010
By Wendy Barlow
A 90-YEAR-old pensioner has been left too scared to live at his home after burglars tricked him before stealing cash.
A court heard Larry Lee, 19, distracted the vulnerable victim while his older accomplice went upstairs and helped himself to £200 from the victim's wallet.
The Helshore pensioner, who had withdrawn the money to buy friends and family a drink to celebrate his birthday, was unable to go back to his home of 40 years after the ordeal.
Lee, said to be illiterate, admitted the burglary last July and was sent to detention for 12 months.
His accomplice has not yet been caught by police.
Sentencing Lee, of Exchange Street, Accrington, Judge Jonathan Gibson told him there was a great deal of public concern about the elderly being subject to deceptions in their own houses.
The judge said he accepted Lee was not the prime mover.
But he said: "You played a full part knowing what was going on.
"You are plainly someone of limited intelligence who is easily led, you pose a risk of suicide in custody and are likely to find a custodial sentence difficult to serve."
Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said the victim had managed to live alone with some help from his family.
His home was targeted as it had white handrails outside the front door.
He was still in his pyjamas and having his breakfast when he saw two men coming up the garden path.
His daughter had told him not to let any strangers in the house, but one of the duo put his foot in the door.
Lee then kept the victim downstairs whilst the other man went upstairs.
The prosecutor said: "It had been the victim's 90th birthday four days before and he had withdrawn the cash as he was going to have a party that weekend and wanted to buy everybody a drink."
The hearing was told the victim had previously been targeted by bogus workmen.
Last December he had a fall and, after a hospital stay, was unable to go home as he was frightened other people would pick on him.
Joanna Rodikis, for Lee, said the offence was mean and the defendant was the first to accept that.
The barrister said Lee had had problems with drink and cannabis and had tried to take his life on one occasion.
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