A man asked a 96-year-old woman to make him a cup of tea then stole £300 and her purse as she did so.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard John Reid, 33, carried out the theft at the elderly woman’s sheltered home on Seafield Lane.
The court heard the woman was so frightened after the theft that she now suffers panic attacks and a lack of confidence.
Fiscal depute Kirsten Letford told the court the incident took place at 2pm on March 5 after the victim saw Reid walking along a path outside her house.
The fiscal said: “He said he was cold and asked for a cup of tea. She reached below her armchair and took her keys out of her handbag, which was under her chair, and opened patio doors.”
Reid entered her home and his victim went to make him tea.
The fiscal continued: “He asked for more milk and she went away to get it but when she returned the accused said he didn’t want tea anymore and left.”
The woman locked her patio door behind him and went to put her keys into her bag. She immediately noticed her purse, containing £300, was missing.
Police were contacted, and noticed she was extremely upset when they attended.
She later found her purse tucked down the side of her sofa, missing the £300.
Solicitor Ian Myles, defending, said: He is disgusted at himself.”
Reid, a prisoner at Perth, admitted stealing a purse and contents of £300 from a home on Seafield Lane on March 5.
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael said: “You pled guilty to an appalling crime.”
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