Byline: SARAH CHAPMAN

A THIEF who conned his way into the homes of pensioners has been jailed for six years.

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John Murphy, 31, targeted elderly men and women living alone, mainly in sheltered accommodation, and took cash from them.

Murphy, formerly of 14 Butleigh Road, Huyton, pleaded guilty at Liverpool crown court to five charges of burglary.

Brian Cummings, prosecuting, told the court Murphy first struck on October 18 last year in Skelmersdale.

He told an 85-year-old woman that he worked for the council and she let him into her sheltered flat, where he stole her handbag containing pounds 815.

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The court heard that on May 3, Murphy knocked on the door of an 84-year-old man at Langham Court in Anfield and told him the warden of the sheltered accommodation knew about his visit.

Inside the flat, Murphy took pounds 80 out of the man's wallet.

Mr Cummings said Murphy stole money from a 72-year-old in St Luke's Court, Anfield, in June and a week later returned and punched him in the face.

Murphy's next victim was an 81 year -old blind widow. He stole her purse and pounds 160.

Damian Nolan, defending, said Murphy, who has previous convictions for burglary and theft, had been addicted to cocaine and alcohol at the time and was remorseful.

``He accepts that these burglaries, which have affected so many people, represent the most shameful thing of his life. ''

Jailing Murphy, who stood in the dock with his head bowed, Judge Mark Brown told him his crimes were despicable.

``You targeted these individuals because of their age and vulnerability.

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``Society rightly reserves its deepest censure for those who prey on vulnerable groups. These kinds of offence cast a shadow on the lives of elderly people. ''

CAPTION(S):

MURPHY: Preyed on elderly men and women living alone

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