A THIEF who preyed on a disabled 90-year-old in a 'mean and vicious' distraction burglary has been jailed.

Daniel West had already admitted burglary, fraud and a separate charge of perverting the course of justice in relation to the incident in Oxford between April and May last year.

Oxford Crown Court heard at his sentencing hearing on Friday how the 31-year old of Clifton, Nottingham, went to his victim's address under the guise of warning others about cold callers.

It was while he was inside that he snatched a cheque book, later using the cheques to fleece the elderly man's bank account.

When police went on to investigate the burglary a fingerprint belonging to West was found on a 'no cold calling' sticker he had placed on a window.

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In a victim personal statement read to the court the 90-year-old victim said the incident had left him feeling scared of letting in strangers to his home and afraid to answer the door.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Ross said: "He gave you hospitality, you asked for a cup of tea, he was delighted clearly to make you one.

"He was enjoying the fact of somebody giving him some company.

"What a mean and vicious offence."

West was jailed for four years for each count of burglary and fraud, to run concurrently.

He was also jailed for a further nine months to run consecutively for his failed bid to pervert the course of justice in seeking another man to falsely take responsibility for the crime.

West must also pay a victim surcharge.