A CAREER conman who preyed on old people across Lancashire and stole more than £15,400 from one victim, has gone to jail for three and a half years.

And a judge told Anthony Gardiner, whose victims were all in their 80s and included a bed-ridden woman, that he would have locked him away for much longer if he could.

Gardiner and his accomplice took the victim of a roofing con to his building society "almost daily" to syphon his savings, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Sentencing Gardiner, 35, Judge Raymond Bennett said preying on the elderly seemed to be his way of life. He added: "Some people might think you should be locked away forever, but I can't do that."

Gardiner, of Spring Street, Rishton, had admitted deception charges and burglary.

Chris Knight, prosecuting, said after the roofing con, the victim was given a guarantee to say such work as was carried out was good for 24 years. It was no doubt of little value, he added.

Later, Gardiner reappeared at the pensioner's home and said a building inspector was due and more work needed doing on the roof. The work was not done but the defendant got £700.

Gardiner also helped himself to three purses containing £60 after he turned up at an 89-year-old's door asking for pen and paper. Mr Knight said Gardiner was the getaway driver when he and another man targeted an 87-year-old bedridden woman. The man appeared in her bedroom, reached across her so she could not move and took £4,000 from under her bedclothes. Suspicious neighbours alerted police and the pensioner picked out the man on an ID parade.

Arthur Stuttard, defending, said Gardiner was currently serving four months. He accepted the court had no choice but to impose a custodial sentence and a substantial one at that. The best mitigation was that he had pleaded guilty.

Gardiner had a bad record, but since his release from his last sentence, he had done something to put his private life in order. He married two years ago, there were four children of the family and Gardiner was hoping he would not miss too much of the growing up of the two younger children.

Mr Stuttard went on: "He had got to the age of 35. He sees it as something of a turning point in his life and is hoping to turn over a new leaf."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.