A CONMAN who stole cash from pensioners after claiming he was collecting for victims of the Kashmir earthquake is behind bars for four years.

Drug addict Shabir Hussain, 28, got donations from victims before walking into their sheltered accommodation homes in Nelson and helping himself to their savings.

And in one case he stole from a 91-year-old woman's bible, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Hussain's conduct was described as despicable by a judge, who said the offences were premeditated and targeted elderly vulnerable victims.

Judge Beverley Lunt went on: "You have been given chances to wean yourself away from drugs and you don't take them."

The defendant, of Tavistock Street, Nelson, admitted three burglary charges, between last July and October and asked for another offence to be taken into consideration.

Philip Potter, prosecuting, told the court the defendant called at the home of the 91-year-old victim last October.

He told her he was collecting sponsorship for the earthquake and she went into her bungalow to get some money, thinking it was for a good cause, the court was told.

The woman then turned round to see Hussain in her living room.

She gave him £20, he asked for a glass of water and after he had gone the pensioner noticed £320 had been taken from a wallet inside her bible.

The victim was angry as she needed the cash to pay bills and because the defendant had used something as tragic as the earthquake to get cash, the court was told Mr Potter said another victim was 81 and the defendant turned up with a clipboard, again saying he was collecting for the earthquake.

Again he followed the woman into her property and after she gave him £10, he again asked for water and left with her purse and more than £300. The woman was angry and upset and was now wary of opening her front door.

Zoe Nield, defending, said Hussain was truly ashamed and genuinely remorseful to have trespassed on the good nature and charitable instincts of the elderly victims.