A PAIR of prolific pickpockets who preyed on elderly and vulnerable victims have been sentenced for fresh convictions – but won't spend any more time behind bars.

Kevin Nanton – who has more than 200 previous convictions – and his accomplice Paul Hopkins – with 35 previous – are both already in jail for a string of thefts.

Nanton, 52, of High Street, Witney, is serving 40 months and Hopkins, 44, of no fixed abode, is serving 26 months.

They were jailed in January at Oxford Crown Court for what a court judge called 'disgraceful and disgusting' theft offences against elderly and vulnerable victims.

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The duo appeared again at the same court on Tuesday to be sentenced after admitting more offences of theft and fraud.

Outlining the case prosecutor Alexandra Bull said the crimes all took place in July and August last year.

In each case the pair preyed on elderly and vulnerable victims and snatched their purses or wallets while in shops in and around Oxford.

One victim had written his PIN code in his wallet and thieves were able to use those details to make high-value purchases.

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At an Argos store a mobile phone valued at more than £400 was bought using one of the bank cards.

The court heard that the victim was not entitled to a refund from his bank because he had written the code in his wallet.

Another victim lost more than £1,100 in items bought using stolen cards and one woman was carrying £350 in cash when her purse was snatched.

The court heard that both men had a lengthy criminal past with Nanton having 202 previous convictions to his name compared to Hopkins's 35 previous convictions.

Prosecutors said that the crimes had all involved 'preying on the elderly.'

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In mitigation, Hopkins's defence barrister Peter Du Feu said that his client was 'determined to make a break from the past.'

Guy Wyatt, defending Nanton, said that his client carried out the crimes to fund his gambling addiction.

Speaking of the offending he added that his client, a prolific offender, was 'not very good at it.'

He said: "There is nothing sophisticated about it."

Sentencing, Judge Maria Lamb said: "If you are not professional pickpockets, certainly you are persistent.

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"And you prey on the elderly and vulnerable."

Nanton was jailed for two months for the offences and Hopkins one month.

However, those jail terms were ordered to be served concurrent with the existing jail sentences they were handed earlier this year.

That means they will not serve any extra time in jail for the offences.

They must also pay a statutory victim surcharge but no court costs or compensation was ordered at the hearing.