Published: Friday, 30th May, 2008 16:30
TV conman robs OAPs
By Brian Hossack
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VICTIM: May Kitchen.
A CALLOUS conman who robbed two pensioners in their own homes has been labelled an ‘evil coward’ by his victims.
Michael Dorrian, 27, was jailed on Friday for two years after admitting posing as a salesman for Sky TV to trick his way into the homes of May Kitchen, 80, and Cathy Boyle, 74.
But it was the fraudster’s trick of asking the ladies for a glass of water to buy himself some time alone that finally led to him being snared by police — after he left his DNA on a cup.
May told the Tele: “It was a cold and wet night when he came to my door and I remember noticing how immaculately dressed and polite he was, with his collar and tie and shiny shoes. I felt sorry for him to be honest, working on a night like that.
“He told me he was from Sky and was so plausible I had no problem letting him in. He sat down in my living room and chatted away, telling me how he was going home after seeing me to get his dinner.
“I knew my purse was on the floor beside me and he came and knelt down there and asked me to sign some forms, that’s when he said he needed my bank details and I gave them to him without thinking.
“It was then he asked for the glass of water and I went into the kitchen and let the tap run for a little while. That’s when he must have taken my purse.”
It was only after May received a call from a relative to tell her that a neighbour had been targeted that she realised she had been robbed of her belongings.
She said: “I was dreading telling my son, but we went straight to the bank and they said they would put a halt on my account so no money could be taken. I’ve learned my lesson now, but I’ll find it hard to trust anyone after this.
“What he did was lousy. It was a cowardly, nasty thing to do and he obviously knew it was old people he was going after.”
Dorrian’s other victim Cathy Boyle said she felt numb after the conman struck.
She told the Tele: “I actually thought it was one of my grandsons at the door when I opened it, then he said he was from Sky and asked to come in.
“He looked every inch the young executive and gave me all the patter before asking for a glass of water. He followed me into the kitchen and I got quite scared as he was a tall man and I was frightened he might hurt me.
“He kept asking for my bank details, but I wouldn’t tell him anything. He left quite suddenly and then I knew something was wrong and found my money was gone. I just felt numb.”
Commenting on Dorrian’s two-year sentence behind bars, Cathy said: “I think he should have been locked up for longer for what he did, although I am happy that he has been jailed.”
Dorrian, of Montrose Avenue, Port Glasgow, was caged by Sheriff John Herald on Friday after pleading guilty to stealing from the OAPs at their homes in Port Glasgow on 25 November 2006.
The 27-year-old admitted stealing £18, a purse and photos from May and £25 in cash from Cathy. Not guilty pleas to three other similar alleged thefts at addresses in Kilmacolm, Greenock and Gourock were accepted by the Crown.
Depute fiscal David Glancy told the court how police had been called after the thefts and used DNA tracing techniques on the glass in May’s home to identify Dorrian as the culprit.
Defence solicitor Gerry Keenan said the crimes had been driven by his client’s long-standing drug problem.
He told the court: “He recognises the serious nature of the charges and accepts there can be no excuses for his actions, but by pleading guilty he has avoided further distress and anxiety to these elderly victims.
“His criminal record is suggestive of someone with an addiction to controlled drugs, which he has laboured with since he was 17. This appears to be at the root of these offences.”
After slamming Dorrian for his exploitation of his elderly victims, Sheriff Herald added: “Your sentence would have been 30 months but for your guilty plea.”
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