A RUTHLESS predator of elderly and vulnerable people who seriously injured a 92-year-old man in a robbery at his home has been jailed for 12 years.

Jamie Blackwell, 38, a seventh strike burglar, was labelled “manipulative, devious and wicked” by the judge sentencing him today.

One of Blackwell’s victims, a disabled woman of 91 with dementia, died less than a week after he smashed his way into her Bradford bungalow looking for items to steal.

Prosecutor Nick Adlington told Bradford Crown Court that Blackwell was to be sentenced for the robbery and for burgling three vulnerable people.

Blackwell, whose address was given as HMP Leeds, had 22 previous convictions for 41 offences. Between 2000 and 2016, he had raided the homes of 10 victims, many of them elderly.

The heroin and crack cocaine addict’s latest burglary spree began on September 5, 2018, when he struck at the home of a 68-year-old man with learning difficulties.

Mr Adlington told the court that the man, who had since died, was eating dinner at his flat in Greengates, Bradford, when Blackwell walked in and took money from the table. The following day, a care worker caught Blackwell in the flat

again.

She took a photo of him as he fled, dropping a bag containing a coffee jar with his fingerprints on it.

Nine days later, Blackwell was back in the area, targeting a block of flats housing elderly and vulnerable residents.

He posed as a council worker to trick his way into the home of a woman with learning difficulties. She made him a cup of tea but became suspicious and frightened when Blackwell asked her how much money she had in the bank.

He left empty-handed and went to a neighbouring flat where he tried to grab a 92-year-old man’s wallet from his back pocket. There was a struggle in which Blackwell pulled the fragile pensioner into the street, overpowering him and making off with £50.

The man suffered cuts to his arm which was “degloved” when the skin was peeled back in the tussle. He was treated by a nurse and his injuries bandaged. The man was left angry, unable to sleep and scared to leave his home.

Blackwell’s fourth victim, a woman aged 91, was left confused and afraid when Blackwell smashed the door and window to break into her bungalow on Kingsdale Drive, Bolton, Bradford, on November 3.

He left blood throughout her home, including on the furniture next to her bed.

The frail dementia sufferer, who had lost all mobility and was wholly dependent on carers, died less than a week later, Mr Adlington said.

Blackwell was arrested on December 19 and held in custody.

He had previously served lengthy jail sentences for house burglary, targeting multiple victims in their 80s and 90s.

Blackwell’s solicitor advocate, Michael Walsh, said: “I have to fully accept that these are despicable offences and the defendant knows the court will have very little sympathy for him.”

His only mitigation was the fact that he had admitted the allegations.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, told Blackwell: “You have a horrendous addiction to heroin and crack cocaine. When in the grip of that evil addiction, that is the only matter that you see.”

Blackwell had ruthlessly exploited elderly, vulnerable, challenged people who were fine upstanding members of society.

The judge praised the bravery of the robbery victim who was dragged into the street wearing his emergency button.

Blackwell was sentenced as a dangerous offender with a five-year extended licence period, meaning he will not be freed at the half-way stage of his 12-year prison term.