A hapless burglar accepted brews from his kind-hearted victims, not realising he was leaving his DNA at the crime scene.
Christopher McKillop conned his way into the homes of frail pensioners and stole cash and bank cards from his vulnerable targets.
But the 42-year-old, who was fresh out of HMP Manchester, was caught out after he accepted drinks and cigarettes from his victims, as he posed as a handyman, or spun sob-stories to gain their sympathy.
He stole thousands of pounds but has now been jailed for six years after pleading guilty to nine counts of burglary and ten counts of fraud.
In September and October 2022, he targeted pensioners in East Lancashire and the Fylde Coast, spinning elaborate lies to gain access to their homes.
On occasion he claimed to have been involved in an accident, or pretended to be a handyman, offering his services.
One woman, who lived in Rishton, Lancashire, was confined to her bed following a hospital stay when McKillop walked into her home.
He pointed out that her front door wasn’t secure and claimed to be a handyman and said he would fix it for her, Preston Crown Court heard.
McKillop told her his dad was a builder called Bob who had fitted her kitchen, and after he won her trust, he took her bank card to buy materials and cigarettes.
But instead, the cruel conman spent over £600 of her money, LancsLive reported.
Another man, in his 70s, let McKillop into his home after he claimed to have had an accident when out finishing.
He gave the defendant painkillers and a hot drink before offering him a lift home. But while the generous victim's back was turned, McKillop helped himself to £465 in cash, which the man had set aside to help his relatives out.
During his spree, McKillop targeted bungalows where elderly residents lived alone, and in many cases he was able to name a neighbour, who he said he was waiting for, to earn the trust of his victims.
He took bank cards which he used at shops and supermarkets and even booked himself a hotel room for the night using one stolen card.
One victim lost more than £6,000 after the fraudster used her bank card to make high value electrical purchases.
David Clarke, prosecuting, said the defendant had recently been released from prison for similar offences.
"These are well planned, targeted towards elderly and vulnerable victims on all nine occasions", he said.
McKillop was finally caught when officers traced a stolen card to a hotel in Blackpool where he had stayed the night.
His room was searched and bank cards belonging to the defendant and one of his victims were found.
His DNA was recovered from cups and glasses at the homes he had raided, and when he was eventually found in Carlisle he was arrested.
Defending, Kristian Cavanagh said his client recognised it was "an appalling campaign of criminality."
He said McKillop had struggles with mental health and addiction and expressed remorse for what he had done.
Judge Guy Mathieson, sentencing, said: "You identified your victims because of their vulnerability, not just their age but also infirmity. One was bedridden and relied on daily carers, some have life shortening illnesses, mobility difficulties and the like.
"I have no doubt that all have been left devastated by your actions. You displayed astonishing self assurance, knocking on doors and walking in uninvited, chatting away, accepting drinks and winning their trust.
“They offered to help, some gave you money, some gave you lifts, and you came back to some later in the day to build up your story.
"You requested a variety of things, all lies and tales of woe which tripped off your tongue as absolute truth to convince these vulnerable old people that you were someone in need. They will have been left devastated at the invasion of their homes, the invasion of their lives and the taking of their property.
"But I know from bitter experience and from listening to their victim statements that often it is the distress and frustration that they feel about their own naivety and gullibility that is the hardest to bear. It is not a weakness that people of any age want to trust others and want to help them.
"That is commendable and it is a sadder world that those who wish to see the best in people will fall prey to those who are prepared to take advantage of that and leave them feeling stupid. That diminishes everybody - everybody who hears what happened to those people, and who trust people and offer to help, who aren't prepared to be a Good Samaritan because they are scared they will turn out to be someone like you.
"That is the impact of your offending that can never really be put right."
The judge handed McKillop a sentence of six years to run concurrently for each count of burglary, with a year to run concurrently for each count of fraud.
He said: "Should you return to your criminal ways, the sentences will continue getting longer and longer and longer and the world will continue to get a little worse for those who are trying to make it a better place."
