A thug robbed an 87-year-old widower in his Hamilton home after pretending to be checking water quality in the area.
The frail victim was shoved to the floor and needed hospital treatment.
Steven Johnson, 54, a prisoner, was jailed for 23 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court.
He admitted assaulting and robbing the man in Lorne Street, Hamilton, on March 16.
Jennifer McCabe, prosecuting, said the victim had taken an afternoon nap and got up about 2.20pm when he heard his front door opening.
He thought the visitor was his son, who lives next door, but instead found Johnson in the living room.
Johnson claimed to be a roadworker and said he was checking water quality. He disappeared, but returned a short time later to say the water was running clear.
The pensioner became suspicious and knocked on the wall to alert his son.
Johnson then pushed him to the floor and “forcibly removed” several gold bracelets from his wrist before leaving the house.
He was caught on CCTV trying to sell the items outside a social club a short time later.
Ms McCabe told the court: “The victim’s son found his father lying on the living room sofa. He was dazed, shocked and in tears.”
The pensioner was taken to hospital for treatment to cuts on his head and arm.
Defence agent Stephen McQuillan said his client had battled a drug problem and suffered a relapse earlier this year when he lost his job.
Mr McQuillan added: “There is no excuse for what he did and he wishes to apologise to this gentleman.”
Jailing Johnson for 23 months, Sheriff Douglas Brown told him: “This was a despicable crime and that has to be reflected in the sentence.”
The jail term was reduced from 30 months because of his guilty plea and backdated as he has been in custody since March 21.
