Conman posed as council worker to trick 98-year-old

DESPICABLE Paul Carman posed as a council worker to trick his way into the home of a 98-year-old woman and steal her purse.

- By ROB KENNEDY

The CCTV still of Paul Carman released after the burglary

It was on May 19 that the pensioner, who lives alone in the West End of Newcastle, returned from shopping to find callous Carman loitering outside her home.

Having clocked her age and vulnerability, he decided to con his way into her home to steal from her. Jennifer Coxon, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: “He said he had come from the council to deal with a rat problem. This was not true, he entered her home as a trespasser.

“She tried to find a key for her garage so he could look inside. He was inside her property for around 10 to 15 minutes and he said he would return the following day to sort out the rat problem?”