A drug addict who tricked his way into an elderly couple's home and stole jewellery has been jailed for three years.

David Moyles, 45, had admitted burglary earlier this month after he conned his way into the Keighley home of Harold Bamforth, 85, and his 87-year-old wife Elizabeth on April 16 and fleeing with cash and jewellery Mrs Bamforth, who was the mother of former international footballer Trevor Hockey, who played midfield for Wales and for Bradford City from 1960-61, died about three months later.

Moyles, of Sunnydale Grove, Long Lee, Keighley, snatched the jewellery, including a locket with photographs of her loved ones, from Mrs Bamforth's home in West Lane, Keighley.

He got into their flat after Moyles told Mr Bamforth his father had died and he needed to use the telephone.

But once inside he wandered into the living room and sat down opposite Mrs Bamforth.

When the couple, who had been married about 27 years, asked him to leave, he pulled his jacket over his head and demanded cash.

Prosecutor Andrew Kershaw said: "Mrs Bamforth was terrified and handed him some cash from her purse. He also stole some jewellery from the mantelpiece and ran off."

The jewellery included a silver cross from Mrs Bamforth's first husband, two gold chains and a gold sleeper.

Mr Kershaw said: "He (Moyles) was arrested at about 10pm nearby and found to be in possession of the jewellery but not the cash.

Since then Mrs Bamforth has died. In interviews he gave explanations which were all drug-related."

The court heard Moyles had previous convictions for theft and burglary and had been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison by Keighley magistrates on April 20 for theft since being arrested for this offence.

Defending Moyles, Richard Clews said his client had "struggled throughout his life to get going".

He added: "He is the sort of person who needs now and in the future considerable assistance. He is not a confident person and he convinces himself he cannot succeed.

"Your honour has read in his letter there is renewed motivation. He sounds determined. This man knows if he continues to take drugs he will continue to get into trouble. He is no longer in the slightest doubt that if he continues to offend in this way he can expect longer sentences."

Sentencing Moyles at Leeds Crown Court yesterday His Honour Judge Geoffrey Kamil described Moyles' history of previous convictions as "dreadful."

He told Moyles: "This is the third time you have appeared for burglary in five years so you require the minimum sentence of three years prescribed by Parliament. The elderly complainant did not have to give evidence. Had he given evidence and you were convicted you would have received a very substantial sentence indeed.

"I am not going to lecture you. No doubt you have been lectured many times and it's gone in one ear and out of the other."

Moyles could be out of prison in less than a year, having already spent 118 days on remand.

The judge warned Moyles if he broke the law or breached the terms of his licence once released, he would be returned to jail to complete the balance of his sentence.