A serial distraction burglar who stole £1,800 from an elderly couple at their Oxford home has been jailed for six years.

Bernard McDonagh, 39, was told his act of posing as a water board official was "of the most mean and despicable character", when he was sentenced at Coventry Crown Court.

McDonagh, of Thurlestone Road, Lewisham, London, admitted three charges of burglary and one charge of driving while disqualified.

He also asked for a further 15 distraction burglaries in Coventry, Birmingham and Oxford to be taken into consideration.

The court heard that all the victims were aged between 60 and 88.

Saleema Mahmood, prosecuting, said that on June 25 McDonagh stole £1,800 from 91-year-old Cecil Furby and his wife Peggy, at their home in Rose Hill, Oxford.

McDonagh told Mr Furby he was from the water board and needed to check the plumbing. They let him in and he stole £1,500 from a jacket and £300 from a dressing table.

Miss Mahmood said the latest offences began on June 3 this year when McDonagh visited the home of an 81-year-old widow in Coventry and stole £1,100 from her handbag. On June 11, he took £183 from an 82-year-old widow at her flat, also in Coventry.

In both cases he posed as a water board official.

McDonagh was identified after forensic swabs were taken from a cup of tea he had drunk at one of the flats.

On July 13 McDonagh was arrested for driving while disqualified in Birmingham and officers found £10,730 in his sock.

David Seconde, defending, said McDonagh had not used violent or threatening behaviour.

The latest offences happened days after he was released from a five-year jail sentence for burglary.

Judge James Pyke sentenced McDonagh to six years to run concurrently for the three burglaries and the offences taken into consideration.

He was also sentenced to 512 days in jail for the time not served from his jail sentence and five months in jail for driving while disqualified, both to run concurrently.

He was also banned from driving for four years.

Judge Pyke said: "Preying on these people and the trust they place in you, you steal property worth a great deal more to them than to many others.

"This patently is criminality of the most mean and despicable character."