A thief who travelled the east coast deliberately targeting elderly and vulnerable victims before sneaking into their homes to steal has been jailed for almost three years.
Paul Nicoll targeted victims up to the age of 83 in Arbroath, Dundee, Perth and Auchterarder in a four-month spree.
In one incident he helped an elderly woman into her house with her shopping – before making off with cash.
Nicoll, 45, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to a total of 11 charges of theft and being found in houses without lawful authority whereby it may be inferred he was there to steal.
Defence solicitor David Duncan told Dundee Sheriff Court: “He accepts there is no realistic sentence other than imprisonment.
“I’m not asked to ask for anything other than that. He knows he has a debt to pay to society.”
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael jailed Nicoll for a total of 35 months.
He said: “You accept a custodial sentence is inevitable here. You are correct.
“It seems you deliberately targeted the houses of elderly and vulnerable people.
“The ages of the victims range up to 83. You preyed on these people.”
