A THIEF targeted an elderly man about to use a cash machine to relieve him of £260, a court heard.

Once the victim put his PIN number into the machine, from where he was planning to withdraw £40, outside a store in Barnard Castle, in stepped Richard Lawrance Calvert, who had accompanied him to the ATM.

He changed the sum requested to the maximum £300 and took the money, giving the victim the £40 he originally planned to withdraw and kept the rest for himself, before leaving the scene.

Durham Crown Court was told the incident took place on December 5, but Calvert was only traced later through a single piece of CCTV footage, as well as via an image on social media.

He was also selected by the victim in a police identity procedure conducted on January 24, following his arrest.

The 44-year-old defendant, of Brockrigg Court, Guisborough, in East Cleveland, admitted a charge of theft when the case was first heard before magistrates, who sent the case for sentence to the crown court.

Will Byrne, prosecuting, said the victim had not wanted to make an impact statement, but simply told police that the incident has upset his wife, who is particularly wary when out shopping.

Judge Christopher Prince briefly adjourned proceedings to offer the victim a further opportunity to make an impact statement.

Mr Byrne returned to court after inquiries were made and said that the victim stated he does now look over his shoulder when using ATMs and the incident has affected him when out shopping.

The court heard the defendant has a number of offences for dishonesty on his record having served prison sentences of differing lengths for theft and burglary, including a four-year term for stealing expensive jewellery, including a ring worth £8,000, in 2013, and nine-months for inviting himself into an elderly man’s home and helping himself to £60 from his wallet, last year.

Judge Prince adjourned as He would like more information on some of Calvert’s past crimes, to see if he does appear to target older people.

Remanding him in custody until sentence, next week, the judge told Calvert: “You must appreciate you will receive a significant custodial sentence for this offence committed against a comparatively elderly man simply going to withdraw cash.”