POLICE have given a warning to thugs pretending to be doorstep callers after a man was jailed for seven years.

Shaun Porteous, 31, posed as a window cleaner to trick his way into the homes of elderly people on Teesside, before demanding money.

During one attack, Porteous, from Thornaby, Stockton, forced his way into the house of a 61-year-old man suffering from cancer and held a knife to his throat.

In a second robbery, he terrorised a 77-year-old woman for 15 minutes in her home before her carer arrived, forcing him to flee.

Porteus pleaded guilty to two robberies when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court. He was locked up for seven years.

Cleveland Police said they were appalled by the details of both crimes and said Porteus's lengthy jail term should act as a warning to bogus callers attempting to extort money from the old and vulnerable.

The force has set up Operation Strongbow, aimed specifically at combating travelling gangs posing as doorstep salesmen.

The move comes more than a year after The Northern Echo launched its Doorstoppers campaign to highlight the dangers of bogus workers and sneak-in thieves.

Detective Sergeant Mark Buckley, who investigated both cases, said: "This was an extremely difficult inquiry due to the age and vulnerability of the victims.

"We believe there may have been others, but people have been too frightened to come forward to give information."

Det Sgt Buckley said Porteus had shown no remorse and refused to co-operate with police.

He said: "I hope this sends out a warning to people minded to behave in such a fashion that we will not tolerate such behaviour."