A MAN has admitted stealing £1,300 from an elderly woman in Hereford.

John Hamer entered the property in Hampton Street, St James, on July 15 after telling the woman he was working on the street and asked to do some work on her roof tiles.

She let him into the property and gave him £40 before leaving him alone in a room while she went to get him a glass of water.

The woman then realised the money had been taken from a drawer in her dining room, which was in a green wallet.

Hereford Magistrates Court heard last Friday that Hamer is a persistent offender who has a history of obtaining money from people by posing as a workman.

The 39-year-old, from Winsford, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to four charges of a burglary dwelling and theft and three offences of fraud by false representation.

Magistrates heard that one of the other burglaries happened in Ryelands Road, Leominster on August 3. Hamer stole a wallet valued at £10 from the home.

Hamer also pleaded guilty to 12 charges of breaching an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) and damaging a motor vehicle valued at £926.

Fifteen of the offences were committed in Herefordshire, with the other six taking place in Cheshire.

"He has a record of this sort of offending, where he goes to addresses saying work is needed on the house," said prosecutor Jackie Rogers.

"Sometimes he obtains money , but doesn't do the work."

Hamer also pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing cannabis with the intention of supplying it while he did not enter a plea on six further charges of fraud by false representation.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Worcester Crown Court next month.