‘Vile’ thief who preyed on the elderly is jailed

Pretended to be tradesman then stole cash

- BY ANDREW BARDSLEY

‘VILE’ thief targeted the elderly and vulnerable while pretending to be a genuine tradesman before stealing money from them.

Thomas Hallisey, 48, turned up uninvited at homes in Rochdale and Littleborough before offering to carry out gardening or landscaping services, only to take residents’ cash and never carry out the work.

When one suspicious victim asked if he was genuine, Hallisey told her: “I love my mum. I wouldn’t like anyone to do it to her. Don’t worry about that, love.”

He has now been locked up following a hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court, where a judge branded him ‘vile’.

“The defendant preyed on the elderly and vulnerable,” prosecutor Lisa Boocock said.

She said Hallisey targeted areas where elderly people lived.

They were often ‘isolated in their own homes’.

His first victim was a 70-year-old woman.

Hallisey knocked on her door at about 5.30pm on January 13.

She saw he appeared to be talking to someone on the phone, but later believed this was a ‘ruse’.

Hallisey told her that he had been speaking with one of her neighbours and told her that the roof needed work.

He also claimed there was a problem with rats in the area.

He left with £85 promising to carry out work but never returned.

Hallisey next turned up at the home of a man on February 13, who was not said to be elderly, but was ‘vulnerable’ as he sometimes used a mobility scooter.

He offered to carry out gardening work — and claimed to be on a ‘council list’.