A conman who tricked an 87-year-old woman into paying £60 for supposedly clearing her guttering and stole £470 Christmas shopping money from the home of a woman of 82 was told by a judge they were “despicable” offences.

Bobby Doherty, 32, of Selly Oak, Birmingham, was jailed for two years at Mold crown court, to run consecutively to a previous three-year term. He admitted fraud at Towyn and burglary at Holywell in December 2018.

Judge Nicola Jones said he had changed the lives of the vulnerable pensioners. “These are despicable, nasty offences perpetrated upon vulnerable old ladies living alone,” she remarked.