A pensioner conned out of cash by a 'charity footballer' drove around the streets of south Liverpool in a bid to track down the thief.
The woman, in her 90s, was one of countless victims preyed upon by William Redmond as he knocked on the doors of the vulnerable asking for sponsorship money.
But rather than raising funds for cancer support charity Marie Curie he was collecting money to fund his cocaine habit.
In May and June of last year, Redmond targeted supported accommodation in the Childwall area.
Carrying a piece of paper - his homemade ‘sponsorship form’ - he told unsuspecting victims he was playing in a football match to raise money for Marie Curie.
Many sponsored him - typically offering between £5 and £10 to fund his efforts.
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Mandy Nepal, prosecuting, said: “The majority of the the victims are elderly individuals who were alone and who lived in suitable accommodation for their age and vulnerability.
“The defendant is said to have attended each address with a slip of paper and informed the individual he was collecting money for the Marie Curie charity, he was playing in a charity football match and asked for money.
“As a result the majority of the individuals who were approached by the defendant gave the defendant money in small amounts - £5 to £10 - during his visits to their address.”
Liverpool Crown Court heard his victims included several women in their 90s - one a 95-year-old with dementia.
He snatched the purses of at least two women, one of whom said she had been left shaken and questioning her trust of others as a consequence.
Despite being in her 90s one victim actually hunted for the 28-year-old.
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In a statement, she said: "This incident left me very cross with myself for being taken in so easily and being fooled by this man.
"I know that other people could have really been shaken, but I actually ran out to my car and got in and drove around to try and find him and stop him from doing this to other people.
"I am so pleased with the police that they got him and this is a very good job.
"I imagine this man targeted me because of my age and I know others would have been really shaken up, but I am not like that and I reiterate he made me so cross for falling for his con and how dare he come into my home and steal my property."
A second victim, in her 80s, also praised police and said: "Since the incident I have been so worried about answering the front door to anyone and felt trapped in my own home.
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"The man was nasty to do this to me and on the day I was so shocked and upset and being told that not only have the police caught him, but he is likely to go to prison has taken a massive weight off my shoulders.
"I have dedicated my life to public service as a nurse and no one has the right to target me in my own home, which I consider a place of sanctuary.
"This man was young and he has clearly knocked at my door because I am old and unsteady on my feet and there was little chance he would have been caught.
"I cannot state how elated I feel that I know he will not return and I feel that I can now live my life again, happier that he will not return."
Redmond was eventually stopped by an officer called to reports of a man knocking on doors on a Sunday afternoon last June.
In interview he told police he was a cocaine addict looking to fund his habit.
Redmond, of no fixed abode but from the Gateacre area, admitted a host of offences that included fraud by false representation, theft and burglary.
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A total of 63 similar offences were also taken into consideration. From those alone he raised just under £200.
A psychiatric report stating Redmond is a paranoid schizophrenic was presented to the court, leading to an application for him to be given an hospital order.
Kevin Batch, defending, said: "I invite the court to make the order as sought given the very sad background of everybody involved in this case, the victims and the defendant."
Redmond was given an indefinite hospital order, meaning he will be detained at a hospital facility.
Following the case, Detective Constable Jason Keating, said: "Redmond is a heartless and calculating offender, who preyed on the most vulnerable members of our communities, taking advantage of their good nature in order to steal and attempt to steal money.
"The impact of being a victim of such a deception is incalculable, especially in the cases of victims in their 90s and some of whom were already suffering from ill health.
"We are pleased that this investigation has removed a dangerous and despicable man from the streets of Liverpool, and would encourage anyone with concerns about similar offences to come forward and we will do the rest."
