A PROLIFIC burglar who targeted vulnerable victims has been jailed.

Billy Hall, 45, of King Edward Avenue, Worthing, was sentenced to five years in prison following his conviction of 10 offences.

Police were investigating a spate of house burglaries in the Worthing district during May and June last year.

Officers were initially called to a property in Sea Lane, Ferring, on 16 May after items were stolen from inside the property.

The occupant, an 83-year-old woman, was gardening and when she returned inside, she noticed bank cards, jewellery and a small notepad with her bank card PIN details were missing.

Officers discovered a total of £500 had been withdrawn from the victim’s bank accounts. CCTV from the ATM was obtained and a police investigation was launched.

Over the next month eight other burglaries or attempted burglaries with similarities were reported to police and further CCTV evidence was sought.

Footage was seized of a man with a handbag in his hands fleeing from a property in Georgia Avenue, Worthing.

The man from the footage was identified as Hall as well as DNA evidence found linking him to the scene.

A footprint was also discovered at a property in Lindum Way, Worthing, and when tested, supported the view that the mark recovered was made by Hall’s trainers.

Hall was arrested and subsequently charged with four counts each for burglary and fraud and one count each for theft and attempted burglary. He appeared at Hove Crown Court on Wednesday 12 February and was given a total of five years in prison.

Investigating officer DC Chris Merryfield-Day said: “We welcome the result from court for the sentencing of Hall. He preyed on vulnerable elderly victims and would often enter the properties when the occupants were at home during the evening or asleep.

“I must commemorate the courageousness of each of the victims in their support for our investigation and hope it goes some way to providing them with closure.”