A DOORSTEP conman got cash out of a Copster Green hotel owner after telling a tearful tale.

And Blackburn magistrates heard that Mukhter Singh pulled the same con on a woman living in Clayton-le-Dale just three days later.

The court was told that Singh claimed to be on his way back to Cumbria but had run out of petrol.

But in fact he lived in Preston and had no intention of returning to repay the money as promised.

Singh, 57, of Newton Road, Ashton-on-Ribble, pleaded guilty to stealing £30 from Arthur Fisher, owner of the Brown Leaves Hotel, on November 8 and theft of £10 from Ann Marie Hollings.

He was made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 12 months and ordered to pay compensation to both his victims and £65 costs.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said Mr Fisher had been unloading his car when Singh drove on to the car park of his hotel.

He said he was on his way back to Kendal and asked Mr Fisher to lend him £50 for petrol which he promised to repay the following day.

He said at first Mr Fisher refused and started to walk away. But Singh's eyes began to fill with tears and Mr Fisher felt sorry for him and gave him £30.

As Singh drove off, Mr Fisher took his registration number and when he had not returned the cash in four days, reported the incident to police.

Three days later, Singh knocked on the door of Ann Marie Hollings. He told her he had come to East Lancashire to meet someone but had missed them. He said he needed money for petrol to get back to Carlisle.

"She was reluctant to lend him any money but he was pleading with her for help and she felt sorry for him," said Mr Harrison.

"These were clear acts of charity to a man they thought was in dire need. They trusted him."

Mr Harrison said Singh admitted driving round the Ribble Valley in the preceding weeks and trying the deception about 10 other times.

Elizabeth Parker, defending, said he had intended to take the money back but things hadn't worked out.

"He apologises for what happened and he wishes he could turn the clock back."