A MAN who preyed on old people posing as a council workman accompanied by his son was yesterday jailed for three years.

Michael Joyce, 42, struck at the homes of elderly people in County Durham, Wearside and Tyneside, aided by his son, Anthony, and a 17-year-old friend.

In the course of a few weeks earlier this year, they targeted elderly residents in Chilton, near Ferryhill, Sherburn Village, near Durham, Rickleton, in Washington, Sunderland, South Shields, and Gateshead.

Durham Crown Court was told they escaped with £120 and jewellery from a 75-year-old woman's home in Sherburn Village in January.

But a team of Durham Police officers, brought together recently to combat doorstep conmen, kept them under observation after a suspicious neighbour noted their van's number plate.

They were arrested on leaving the home of an 87-year-old, partially-sighted woman in Rickleton with her purse, containing £300, and a pair of socks, last month.

Richard Cowen, prosecuting, said the 17-year-old was being dealt with by the youth court, while Joyce's son had pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and was to be sentenced by magistrates.

John Temple, mitigating, said Joyce made immediate admissions and was extremely remorseful.

He said such was his remorse that Joyce handed his van over to police to sell to recompense his victims.

Joyce, of Jervis Street, Hebburn, South Tyneside, admitted two burglary charges and asked for seven similar offences to be considered.

Jailing him, Judge Denis Orde told Joyce: "These really were callous crimes you committed."