A TEESSIDE crook who targeted vulnerable pensioners by tricking his way into their homes has been jailed for four years.

Colin McPhee, pictured, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced for burglaries in the Bolton area.

In September he was jailed at Teesside Crown Court for five years for stealing from elderly people on Teesside over a three-year period.

The court in Liverpool heard he struck on July 30 at the home of an elderly woman in Singleton Avenue, Bolton.

He told the 85-year-old woman and her daughter about gardening jobs that needed doing, walked uninvited into the kitchen, sat down and took his top off. As the women tried to usher him out he hid something behind his back.

McPhee ran away and the women Gucci Bracelet found that a handbag containing cash had been stolen, said Lindsay Thomas, prosecuting.

On August 2 he cut a hedge at a house in Bradford Road, Bolton, and was paid pounds 45.

The householder saw McPhee in his living room, who said he was looking for a pen and left. The householder found a wallet containing pounds 35 cash had been taken.

McPhee, 26, of Ridley Avenue, Acklam, pleaded guilty to the two burglaries and had seven similar offences in Bolton taken into consideration.

The court heard he is serving five years, imposed by Teesside Crown Court for other burglaries.

Judge John Phipps sentenced him to four years to run concurrently to his other sentence.