A ROOFER who stole from elderly women has been jailed for two years.

Drug addict Frank Clark, 31, of Railway Street, Nelson, did minor jobs for the two pensioners before helping himself to £1,500.

The defendant, who had got an NVQ in roofing while in prison, had duped both women by turning up with a bucket of broken slates, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Clark, who struck in Burnley, took a 90-year-old woman to the cash machine and got more money than she thought after she typed in her PIN and let him put in the amount.

He later stole her bank card and took more money.

The defendant admitted two charges of fraud and six of theft in January and February.

Recorder Barry Searle said Clark had targeted the victims and the offences were mean and despicable.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said the first victim Sarah Brown, 84, was at home when he arrived with his bucket of slates and announced he had come to do some jobs.

Mrs Brown believed her grandson, Ian, a builder, had sent the defendant.

Mr McEntee said four days later, Clark turned up at the home of Doris Rothwell, 90.

He told her he would repair loose tiles for £30.

He then told her he had found another problem and work would cost £120.

Mrs Rothwell paid Clark £80 and he said he would return.

The defendant went back and was given £40. Clark then claimed work needed doing at the back of the house.

He said the repairs would cost £75 and took her to a cash machine at a local Spar shop.

Mrs Brown typed in her PIN and allowed him to press in the amount. He got £250 instead.

Clark took the victim to the machine a second time claiming he needed materials and again got £250. Mrs Rothwell thought he had taken £25.

Mr McEntee said on February 4, Clark returned to her home and asked her to go outside to watch for his drill to come through.

He then took her purse and withdrew £250 three more times.

Clark had been captured on the CCTV at the cash machine and was identified by police.

He had almost 70 previous convictions, 12 of which were for house burglaries and many for dishonesty and had served time behind bars Hugh Barton, defending, said Clark had had a 16-year drug addiction but there was no suggestion he had ever picked on the elderly before.

He said: “There is very little by way of mitigation.

"They are obviously vile offences. This defendant has accepted that and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.”