AN ‘EVIL’ thief who targeted elderly residents in their own home to fund his £100,000-a-year drug habit has been jailed indefinitely.

Sean Lewis preyed on nine pensioners – mostly lone women in their 70s and 80s – and in one case grabbed a terrified 80-year-old widow by the throat and flung her across the room, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Even his own solicitor said that many people would think he was “loathsome” while a judge said the offences were “despicable, nasty and abhorrent”.

Police said that they believed Lewis had other victims but they were relieved “no one else would suffer at his hands”.

The hearing was told the defendant needed cash to pay for his addiction to heroin or crack cocaine, which was out of control and costing him up to £2,800 a week.

Lewis, from Nelson, but of no fixed address, admitted one count of robbery, two charges of burglary and asked for seven "distraction" burglaries to be considered. Most of his offences were committed in Burnley.

He was given an indeterminate prison term and must serve at least three years before being considered for parole.

Sentencing, Judge Simon Newell said the defendant did evil to good people and had carried out appalling abuse of the elderly in their own homes.

The judge, who said he believed Lewis posed a significant risk of serious harm to the elderly, added: "These were the most despicable, nasty, abhorrent sort of offences that one can possibly imagine."

Mercedeh Jabbari, prosecuting, told the court on March 3, the defendant arrived at the 80-year-old victim's home after dark, knocked her door and told her children were playing in her garden.

He insisted she have a look and whilst she was at the door, he grabbed her by the throat, pulled her cardigan, swung her around and threw her onto the settee.

He demanded her purse, swore at her and then found the purse, containing £112 and walked off with it.

The victim, who had recently had a hip replacement operation, later told police she has never been as frightened in her life.

Miss Jabbari said on February 27, Lewis had knocked on the door of a pensioner who has one leg and uses a wheelchair. He went into the living room, asked for change for a £5 note and when the victim took out his wallet, the defendant grabbed it and ran from the property. An ambulance had to be called to attend the pensioner, who suffers from angina and was left struggling to breath.

The day after the attack on the 80-year-old, Lewis arrived at the home of a woman in her mid 40s, lunged past her and grabbed her handbag. He was detained some time later with the bag under his jacket.

The prosecutor said Lewis's other victims in the crime spree were between 72 and 88. The defendant had 21 previous convictions.

Philip Holden, defending, said he accepted the public would find the offences abhorrent.

Mr Holden added: "Some may believe him to be loathsome but he doesn't use gratuitous violence in the pursuit of his end goal."

Inspector Russ Proctor, of Burnley Police, said that Lewis used a bike to travel around the area choosing his targets.

He said Lewis was arrested by officers when caught in possession of stolen property at a house in Dugdale Road, Burnley.

As well as Dugdale Road, Lewis also targeted homes in Browsholme Avenue, Hall Park Avenue, Standenhall Drive, Slaidburn Avenue, Beech Tree Close, Brunshaw Avenue, Allen Court, Marsden Road, Minehead Avenue and Belvedere Road, all Burnley.

Insp Proctor said: “Whist Lewis admitted to these offences I am convinced that there may have been other victims which he has not spoken to us about or been identified, but I am reassured that there will be no more to suffer at his hands for some considerable time.”