Bogus caller in attack on Wednesfield pensioner is jailed

Delvinder Sangha tricked people into thinking he raised money for charities such as Midlands Air Ambulance.

He was given two years and eight months for robbery and four months for fraud at Wolverhampton Crown Court after admitting two counts of fraud and one of robbery.

The 38-year-old, of Fairview Close, Wednesfield, committed offences in the area. In November he persuaded a woman he was from Wednesfield Dance Studios, raising money for Midlands Air Ambulance.

Father-of-two Sangha said he was doing a charity walk and she agreed to sponsor him for£3 but her boyfriend told her not to give him money after recognising Sangha.

Mark Phillips, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday: "He knew the defendant to say hello to and had been there when he said he scammed people and would spend the money on heroin."

On December 12 he knocked on a door saying he was doing a 10-mile charity walk.

A woman who sponsored him for £3 said he had an ID badge, folder and paperwork.

The same day he called on a frail woman, 80, who had had a triple heart bypass.

Mr Phillips said: "The complainant was wearing gold earrings.

"As she leant forward he grabbed one of her gold earrings and took it. He pushed her and she fell back against the wall.

"The woman says she's now scared in her own house and the whole incident has left her very worried."

Sangha – with previous convictions for theft, robbery and shoplifting – was picked out of a parade by two witnesses.

Ekwall Tiwana, defending, said: "He is very aware of the emotional trauma his actions caused her."

Sangha wrote to Judge Robin Onions and the robbery victim expressing remorse but the judge said he took her life "into his own hands" and was fortunate not to face a more serious charge because of her age and her being in poor health.