A GORSE HILL man who preyed upon pensioners by tricking his way into their homes and threatening them with a knife has been jailed.

John Winchcole, 27, of Portland Road, was sentenced on Tuesday at Bolton Crown Court for three counts of robbery, two counts of aggravated burglary, and one count of dangerous driving.

A further seven offences were taken into consideration and Winchcole was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection and will have to serve a minimum of five years in prison before being considered for parole.

Winchcole pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

The offences took place in the winter of 2007 and on each occasion Winchcole’s method was almost identical.

He tricked his way into the homes of vulnerable pensioners and, once inside, he physically threatened them – often by brandishing a knife – and then stole very small amounts of cash.

On November 5, Winchcole knocked on the door of a 78-year-old woman in Old Trafford and got inside by claiming his van had broken down and he needed water.

When the victim went to get him some water, Winchcole pulled out a knife and demanded her purse.

The victim put up a fight and managed to push the knife away but suffered a cut to her finger and a broken collarbone and Winchcole stole her purse, containing just £2.

On November 15, Winchcole stabbed and stole from a 75-year-old woman in Bolton.

On November 16 he targeted an 80-year-old man, again in Bolton, and punched him, causing him to fall.

He also targeted pensioners in the Salford and Stockport areas.

Detective Sergeant Roger Smethurst, of GMP’s Salford division, said: “Winchcole is a particularly nasty piece of work who deserves every minute of his jail sentence.

“Not only did he prey upon vulnerable and frail pensioners just to steal small amounts of cash, but he was also prepared to stoop as low as using a knife to intimidate them.

“On one occasion he even went so far as to stab a 75-year-old woman.”