A TRAVELLER who preyed on pensioners across the North West is behind bars after being caught out by DNA left on a cigarette butt.

Jimmy Evans was identified as the suspect for a series of vicious robberies in Blackburn after leaving the stub at the home of one of his victims in the town.

Police spent a month hunting Evans and released his picture to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, before arresting him in Carlisle last October.

He was sentenced to eight years in jail at Bolton Crown Court this week after pleading guilty to a series of robberies across the North West.

Detective Constable Martin Kennedy, of the targeted crime unit, said many police forces across had been looking for Evans.

He added: "This man has committed crimes of a serious nature throughout the North West, purposefully targeting the old and vulnerable.

"The length of the sentence reflects the serious nature of the offences he committed, and will hopefully provide some small crumb of comfort to the elderly victims concerned."

Evans, 35, of no fixed abode, prompted police to put pensioners on alert after he struck the Knuzden area of Blackburn four times in one week last August.

They warned the elderly to lock their windows and doors as he became more confident and aggressive with each offence.

Evans first struck in Didsbury Street, where he carried out two attacks in the same afternoon, by conning his way into the homes of women in their 70s and stealing cash.

Four days later, Evans dragged an 84 year-old woman around her home in Hozier Street, threatening violence unless he received money.

The woman was severely cut, bruised and distressed by the time he left with a small amount of cash.

Three days later, he was let into a 76 year-old woman's home in Brantwood Avenue after pretending to be from the water board.

Evans threatened her with a knife and grabbed hold of her face, pushing her backwards.

She managed to force him outside and lock the door. Police said she was extremely shaken by the attack.