A heroin addict who preyed on vulnerable old people has been sent to prison for four and a half years.

William Doran, 32, of Kingsdown Lane, in Blunsdon, used a string of excuses to get into their homes, even inviting them to a neighbour's funeral.

Swindon Crown Court heard Doran had just got out of jail when he first struck in September last year.

Within two months he had raided 11 homes and stolen hundreds of pounds.

Jane Warren, prosecuting, said he targeted elderly people living independently in sheltered accommodation.

The first offence was in Durring-ton Walk, Penhill. Geoffrey Stan-ford, 81, and his wife, Sheila, were watching TV on September 9 when they realised a figure was in the living room doorway.

Doran demanded money and searched under their mattress before grappling with frail Mr Stanford and taking his wallet containing £115.

Miss Warren said Doran was caught because blood was found on a broken window pane.

The following month he struck at three houses on Penhill Drive starting at the home of 78-year-old Audrey Hamm.

"He pretended to be the grandson of a neighbour who had died and said he was inviting her to the funeral," Miss Warren said.

He took her purse containing £17 and a book of stamps. Using the same story he took 50p from John Mildenhall.

Doran used the same scam on another woman but left empty-handed. Then he posed as a helper from a doctor's surgery to try and cheat two more victims.

On November 15 he told a 79-year-old in Blundson he was a neighbour's nephew doing building work but he was foiled by a genuine workman.

He was arrested the following day with a £10 wrap of heroin in his pocket.

Doran admitted seven burglaries, possessing heroin and asked for four more burglaries to be taken into consideration.

The court heard Doran had been released from prison weeks before after being sentenced to four months for going equipped to cheat.

Rob Ross, defending, accepted the offences were serious, but asked the judge to put Doran on a drug treatment and testing order.

Jailing him for four and a half years Recorder Christopher Frazer said: "You lied your way into old people's homes in the most despicable fashion.

"The senior citizens of Swindon deserve protection from the courts from people like you who deliberately make their lives a misery."

After Doran was sentenced Mrs Stanford said: "I am so pleased. Geoff and I have been through so much. The shock didn't come straight away. Then I realised what had happened. Now I cry a lot and it makes me feel ill."

She said the couple had suffered four similar burglaries and now kept the doors and windows locked all the time.

Detective Inspector James Vaughan said: "Our fight against this area of crime remains vigorous as ever.

"We have, with the help of the Bobby Van, installed CCTV cameras at the homes of vulnerable victims and those identified as being susceptible to the callous burglar."

Between April and December last year there were 52 distraction burglaries in Swindon compared to 65 during the same period the previous year.

Be safe not sorry

Pensioners in Swindon can take advantage of the Call A Friend scheme, backed by the Advertiser to summon help at a moment's notice.

All they need to do is make a note of the names and telephone numbers of two trusted people who live close by and can respond quickly.

For more information contact Swindon police on 01793 528111.