A CALLOUS crack addict who robbed pensioners in their own homes has been jailed for 10 years.

Joseph Johnson, 30, targeted his five vulnerable victims at night-time, manhandling the terrified pensioners and robbing them of their possessions.

In one case, he shoved an elderly man into a chair and stole his pension and winter allowance out of his back pocket.

The robberies, all in Poole, were at the height of Dorset Police's Operation Taxus investigation into 60 similar attacks on the elderly, by a number of offenders, around the end of last year.

Johnson, of Belben Road, who pleaded guilty to four robberies and one burglary of a post office, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday (August 13).

Judge John Beashel told the defendant: "These elderly people, your victims, have suffered immensely because of your criminal behaviour.

"One lady described how she feels as though she is serving a prison sentence herself - such has been the trauma suffered.

"Robberies of elderly people in their own homes always call for a long prison sentence."

Johnson stood impassively as Judge Beashel sentenced him to 10 years for the robberies, with a concurrent five-year sentence for his part in a two-man burglary of the Bradpole Road post office.

Prosecutor Charles Gabb told the court Johnson had a history of offending, receiving his first four-month sentence in a young offenders' institution, for assault and burglary, when he was 15.

He also has convictions for possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of cocaine and supplying cannabis.

Edmund Gritt, defending, said that alcohol, cannabis and cocaine abuse has featured in his client's offending.

"Mr Johnson's own words are: 'I feel sorry for the occupants of the houses, I would like to meet them to say I'm sorry. I have full remorse for them, but did not know what I was doing because of the crack.'"

DCI Martin Holloway, of Poole police, welcomed the sentence.

"These offences were despicable in nature, preying as they did on the weaker and more vulnerable members of our society, and today's sentence reflects this and the abhorrence with which ordinary people view this type of offending," he said.

"I pay tribute to my officers who worked so hard to bring this series to an end and bring Johnson to justice."

First published: August 14