A ROBBER and confidence trickster has been jailed for three years and eight months after targeting vulnerable elderly women in Bradford.

Paul Yearby, 59, of Rufford Avenue, Yeadon, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court today on a video link to HMP Hull, after pleading guilty to robbery and to two offences of fraud by false representation.

Prosecutor Tayo Dasaolu said the robbery took place on April 12, 2021. Yearby confronted his 75-year-old victim in the doorway of her kitchen at 11am when she returned from a trip to the shops.

He said: “I have cleaned your grates. I want £100.”

Yearby knew her first name and said he had previously done work for a neighbour.

When the pensioner told him she didn’t have that money with her, he raised his voice and she feared things would escalate, Miss Dasaolu said.

She went to a nearby cash point and withdrew the cash for him.

Later on, he came back and stood outside waving money at her as if to say: “Look what I’ve got,” the court was told.

Yearby returned to her home in August last year and said he had carried out more work but this time she threatened to call the police.

The second victim the court was told about was 85 with dementia and mobility problems.

Yearby turned up at her home on May 2, 2021, saying: “I have cleaned your gutters and you owe me £50.” She said she had only £30 and he took that, leaving her scared and shaking.

When Yearby returned she told him she didn’t want her grates cleaning. A family member took his photograph and put it on Facebook and social media users provided his details.

On October 9, 2021, a third vulnerable woman heard a knock on her door and Yearby announced: “I’ve done your gutters. I’m here for £30.”

When her husband took a photo of him, he became irate and ran off.

He was arrested and made no comment when questioned.

Yearby had 20 previous convictions for 52 offences, including robbery, fraud by false representation, burglary and theft.

His barrister, Christopher Styles, said in mitigation that he had gambling debts at the time.

No force or threats were used in the robbery. He raised his voice to his victim but he had not broken into her home or forced his way in.

The offending was a continuation of Yearby’s fraudulent practices as a workman or salesman, Mr Styles suggested.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell QC, said Yearby had ‘taunted’ the robbery victim by waving the banknotes at her as he walked by her house.

His offending had left her considering moving out of the home where she had lived for 17 years.

Judge Mansell said the return visits made by Yearby to his victims showed a callous disregard for the complainants and put into context his protestations about feeling sorry.

“In all three offences you targeted elderly and vulnerable victims in their homes and tried to con them out of money by falsely representing you had carried out work to clean their drains or gutters,” he said.

Yearby’s repeated offending demonstrated a fixed propensity to prey on the elderly for financial gain.