TWO heroin addicts who stole from the elderly in their own homes are both behind bars for nine months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how pizza chef Abid Ali, 24 and graduate and charity worker Abid Rafique, 28, both took cash from their victims. One claimed he wanted to borrow money for drugs while the other used a pensioner's phone to call his dealer.

A judge slammed their behaviour as wicked and despicable. Sentencing the duo, who struck at separate properties in Nelson, Recorder Beverley Lunt said they had abused the complainants' trust after being let into their homes.

The judge continued: "People of their age are entitled to feel safe and secure in their own homes. I have no doubt, thanks to each of you, they have been robbed of all such feelings."

Ali, of Fleet Street and Rafique, of Gordon Road, both Nelson, admitted burglary.

Keith Harrison, prosecuting, told the court Rafique's victim was an 80-year-old man and the defendant asked to use the telephone.

Rafique then requested money for a taxi and the pensioner gave him £5. When the victim's back was turned as he went to call a cab, the defendant took his pension book and an envelope of money and ran off. Rafique escaped with £91.

Mr Harrison said Ali's victim was a 68-year-old woman. One man pretended to use the telephone while his accomplice distracted her.

The pensioner was asked for money for the phone, handed over some change and then her purse was snatched. The woman lost £99.

Both defendants were later arrested. Ali made no comment and Rafique said he had not been to the 80-year-old's house before.

For Ali, Tim Ashmole said he was intellectual and articulate and had planned to go to university until the perils of heroin overtook him.

Mr Ashmole said he accepted the offence was nasty but Ali had cured his addiction and had work.

Wayne Goldstein, defending Rafique, said he maintained the offence was opportunist and he did not target the 80-year-old. He had been in the grip of a heroin addiction at the time and the offence was out of character.

The barrister added the defendant had got a chemistry degree before he lost his way. He was currently working for a charity.