A CONMAN who targetted elderly and vulnerable women to steal their handbags in distraction burglaries, has been jailed for four years.

Career criminal Gary Sims, 47, operated his scam by calling at two New Forest homes late at night and telling the sole occupant that her neighbours had suffered a problem with water leaks.

The father of two initially cheated a 89-year-old woman by pretending to be a plumber. He told her he had been dealing with a pipe that had burst next door. She thought he was genuine, though puzzled that a burst pipe should affect her and asked him to remain at the front door while she checked her property.

Prosecutor Tim Dracass said that 20 minutes after he had left, the victim received a phone call some 20 minutes later by a bogus police officer, claiming he had come in possession of bank cards and asked for her PIN number.

"She asked the caller to attend in person and he became annoyed. He started to lose it and said: Don't you trust the police?' She put the phone down on him."

The woman later realised her handbag containing about £50 in cash, her bank cards and other property was missing.

Handbag The following month, Sims told an 86-year-old woman that a neighbour's ceiling had suffered a leak.

After checking she had not been affected, Sims left and the woman discovered her handbag containing £70 had gone.

Sims was arrested along with a second man, Gary Stebbing, after police had been keeping observations in the area.

On this occasion, said Mr Dracass, they tried to con the 68-year-old occupant saying scaffolding had to be erected outside her housing association home.

However, after she started asking questions, the pair left saying they would return later but never did.

Said to have 29 previous convictions for burglary, Sims, of Cossack Green, Millbrook, admitted two counts of burglary and one of attempted burglary.

In mitigation, Adam Feest said Sims had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Said Mr Feest: "He regrets what he did and knows he will be going to prison for quite some time."

Passing sentence, Judge Jeremy Burford QC remarked: "You say you regretted what you did but regret is different to remorse.'' Stebbing, 45, of Albion Towers, Southampton, admitted attempted burglary and was further remanded in custody for sentence next month.