A conman tricked his way into a pensioner's home and stole money from her handbag.

Larky Hughes knocked on the front door of the woman, aged in her 80s, and told her he was there to do gardening work.

After letting him into her house in Buddens Road, Wickham, he stole £80 from her handbag before leaving without completing any work.

The legitimate gardener employed by the victim confirmed he had not sent anyone to the address to complete work.

In a separate incident, a woman, aged in her 70s, received a knock at the door from Hughes, who again offered to do gardening work.

Hughes was invited through the house, on Highfield Road, Gosport, into the garden to discuss, but the woman soon declined the offer of work.

As Hughes made his way back through the house, he stole the woman’s purse which contained £100 cash and a bank card.

He later returned to the address and was confronted by the victim and her daughter about the stolen items.

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When confronted, Hughes denied stealing the purse, but took £100 out of his pocket and gave it to the victim.

When pressed further on the missing purse and bank card, he simply walked away.

Hughes, of The Spur, Wickham, has now been jailed for more than four years after the thefts.

Hughes admitted two counts of burglary at Portsmouth Crown Court on Tuesday, July 9.

Appearing at the same court on Friday, August 2, he was jailed for four and a half years.

Det Con Zoe Barker said: "Distraction burglaries and other forms of doorstep crime often see some of our most vulnerable members of the community targeted and manipulated into thinking they can trust the person knocking on their door.

"It is a disgraceful act to prey on a vulnerable person in this way for financial gain, and we take robust action against anyone who is identified as being involved in this type of crime."