A BOGUS window cleaner who preyed on the county's elderly, including a 100-year-old woman, has been jailed for seven years. Michael Allen burgled the centenarian's home and tried to force three rings from her hands.

Twice-widowed Violet Cornelius managed to hold on to a wedding ring and the engagement rings given to her in the 1920s and 1940s by her husbands, said William Rickarby, prosecuting.

The defendant's week-long crime spree, to fund a drug habit, was also aimed at victims aged 96, 80, 79 and 72, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Allen, 28, of Hollybush Walk, Hereford, pleaded guilty to nine offences of theft, burglary, deception, attempted robbery and taking a vehicle without consent.

Judge David Matthews said: "These were utterly despicable offences against elderly victims, easy prey who need to be protected by the courts."

He said mercifully Allen had been unsuccessful in getting the rings. And it was fortunate that Mrs Cornelius was not 'gravely affected'. Mr Rickarby said she lived alone in a village near Hereford and needed a trolley to help her walk.

Allen pretended she owed window money, then barged in and declared he wanted cash and jewellery before trying to prise off her rings. He stole her purse and £20 and ripped a carer's alarm from the wall. He claimed police 'stitched him up' but his fingerprints were found at the 100-year-old's home.

Another victim, Isabella Rogers, 72, let him into her Hereford home where he stole her credit card to obtain goods and cashed one of her cheques for £100. On another visit he stole her pension book, later tried to obtain £75 but was foiled.

Allen targeted Stanley Wheeler, 80, in Ross-on-Wye, demanding a window payment of £25, although the normal cost was £7. Frightened, he handed over the extra cash. He also broke into the Hereford home of a 96-year-old man after his daughter had left him £33 in a purse.

For one offence, Allen posed as the boss of Gleam Clean, telling a woman of 79 she still owed £3.50. When he said her windows wouldn't be cleaned again, she paid up. To carry out the burglary of Mrs Cornelius's home, Allen hot-wired a car after forcing the driver's lock. His fingerprints were on the vehicle. In previous deceptions three years ago, the defendant again pretended he was working for Gleam Clean, although the firm had never employed him. His victims then had been women aged 78 and 65.

Peter Arnold, defending, said Allen had tried to quit crack cocaine but the drug agency had a long waiting list. He added: "I've never come across a complainant who was 100. Fortunately, he desisted when he had that lady at his mercy."