A burglar who deceived an elderly man in his 80s has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. Darryl Smith, a resident of Berecroft in Harlow, pretended to have been assaulted when he knocked on his victim’s front door. Taking advantage of the man’s kindness, Smith was allowed into the property to use the bathroom and change his clothes. However, while inside, Smith stole the man’s wallet and bank cards before making his escape.

Following the incident, Smith, 37, used the stolen cards to purchase approximately £120 worth of cigarettes, alcohol, and scratchcards. However, his crime spree was short-lived as he was apprehended three days later. Police looking at CCTV footage from the establishments where Smith made his purchases, as well as fingerprints from the victim’s home lead to his arrest. These crucial pieces of evidence resulted in Smith being charged with burglary, two counts of fraud, and possession of a Class B drug on September 14, 2023.

In court on January 12, 2024, Smith pleaded guilty to the burglary charge, having already admitted guilt to the other three charges. As a consequence, he was sentenced to 18 months behind bars. Detective Inspector Karen Knibbs expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “The custodial sentence for this crime reflects the severe impact burglary can have on victims, regardless of the monetary value of the stolen items. Smith took advantage of his victim’s kind nature, deceiving him to gain entry and burgle his home. The dedication of our team ensured that Smith had no choice but to admit guilt, sparing his victim the ordeal of a trial.”