Callous cousins imprisoned for robbing elderly in their homes

The victims of Thomas and Felix Hanrahan were told access was needed to utilities because of bogus stories such as a neighbour's washing machine exploding.

Once inside while the pensioner was occupied cash would be stolen, Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday.

In one case they walked off with a safe containing 8,400 and 28,000 in premium bond certificates.

Thomas Hanrahan, 31, of Helmsley Walk, Churwell, Leeds was jailed for seven and a half years and Felix Hanrahan, 31 of Ingram Road, Doncaster, was jailed for four and a half years after each admitted conspiracy to burgle.

A teenager of 15 who admitted the same offence received a youth rehabilitation order for 12 months with a four months curfew from 8pm to 7am.

Jailing the cousins Judge Penelope Belcher said: "You deliberately targeted vulnerable victims, elderly individuals in their own homes and distracted them or deceived them in some way, pretending to be there for legitimate purposes when your sole objective was to obtain goods or money for your own use."

Heather Gilmore, prosecuting, said on August 12 the home of an 82-year-old woman was burgled while she was out.

The same day a man knocked on the door of a partially-sighted woman in Alfreton, Derbyshire, saying he had to turn off the water. Although she let him in she became suspicious and nothing was stolen.

But a short time later Thomas Hanrahan struck at the home of an elderly man in Westland Road, Sheffield, after telling him a neighbour's washing machine was flooding.

While he was distracted another person went upstairs and stole a money belt containing 1,600.

The pensioner, realising what was happening, struck one of the burglars with a rolling pin but could not stop them leaving.

In October a woman of 86 had 80 in cash stolen from her bag at her home in Allerton Bywater, Leeds, after the burglars tricked their way in saying there had been a gas explosion at her neighbours and they needed to check her appliances.

Miss Gilmore said on December 16, the teenager got into the home of a 79-year-old in Pontefract with another washing machine story and she later found 35 stolen, and stole 100 at the home of an 80-year-old woman in Normanton, near Wakefield.

On January 4 both Hanrahans were involved in a burglary at the home of an 86-year-old in Castleford who was told the washing machine next door had blown up.

While she was distracted Felix went upstairs and stole her safe. When she realised what was happening she tried to telephone the police but Thomas ripped it from the wall pushing her so she fell on the floor.

Police traced the pair and all the cash and Premium Bond certificates were recovered.

Richard Reed, for Thomas Hanrahan said he committed the offences to fund his heroin addiction.

Now drug free, he realised the distress he had caused. The court heard Felix Hanrahan had a cocaine habit.

After the case Detective Chief Inspector Mick McDermott said: "These offences are despicable, they were committed against frail and vulnerable people who are often unable to defend themselves.

"Burglaries have a lasting effect on their victims, your home is a place where you should be able to feel safe and secure and not a target for criminals."

These offences are despicable, they were committed against frail and vulnerable people.