A Wrexham man has been jailed for two years after he was convicted of burglary with intent to steal from the home of an elderly and vulnerable man in the town.

Mark Anthony Formstone, 45, of Bryn Hedd in Southsea, who had a long list of previous convictions, was also found guilty by a jury at Mold Crown Court of the attempted burglary of a shed in Wrexham, also on February 1.

Judge Rhys Rowlands told Formstone, who denied both offences, that he had been convicted of burglary at the home of an elderly man who, on pretty overwhelming evidence, had been plainly targeted,

He said Formstone had recognised the complainant as vulnerable for some months before the burglary occurred.

The judge said that the defendant’s girlfriend had repeatedly had cash off him.

“I have no doubt at all that you believed he had cash in the house,” the judge told Formstone.

The court heard that when the victim was out, a situation that had been engineered, Formstone broke in looking for cash but in the event there was none there.

Thereafter he went on to burgle a neighbouring shed but there a neighbour acting with remarkable diligence recorded part of what was going on.

The police were called and he was arrested.

There had been no hint of remorse, Judge Rowlands said.

Formstone, at 45, had “the most depressing of records” but nothing for burglary.

He had committed a large number of shoplifting thefts and the judge said he he had caused untold problems for businesses and others in the Wrexham area.

“They deserve having a bit of rest from you,” judge Rowlands told him.

Henry Hills, defending, had earlier claimed Formstone had been given permission to go to the house.