JAILED: Pretend police stole from 76-year-old

Crimea Price and Gemma Davis claimed to be probing a counterfeit money racket when they burst into the victim's high rise flat.

The pair tricked another resident at Dover House in Providence Close, Leamore to knock on the front door and tell him he had a couple of callers in the hope that a familiar voice would encourage the man to let them in on April 19.

The ruse worked but once inside they pushed him aside, picked up his jacket and started going through the pockets. They took £200 cash and some cigarettes before combing the kitchen and bedroom where they picked up a pair of cuff links.

"They said they were police officers who were investigating counterfeit money," explained Mr Mark Phillips, prosecuting.

Davis, 28, and 39-year-old Price left on April but returned two days later. The initial incident had not been reported to the police but they were seen by the same man who had inadvertently helped them on their first visit.

Price told him he was the man's nephew but the person was suspicious and told administrative staff at the block of flats who knew the man did not have a nephew.

By this time the two tricksters had left but a resident knew Price and the pair were traced by police to their home in Goscote Lane, Bloxwich.

Mr Gurdeep Garcha, defending Price, who had seven previous convictions for burglary, said: "He is not a Premier League offender. He comes from the lower reaches of the criminal league."

Mr Patrick Currie, for Davis, commented: "She is more of a follower than a leader and is utterly disgusted with her behaviour in committing this nasty offence."

The two defendants each admitted stealing £200 cash, a set of cuff links and cigarettes during the April 19 burglary. Price was jailed for three years six months while Davis received a two year three months prison term. Recorder Nigel Baker QC observed: "It must have been a traumatic experience for the victim."