Despicable conmen targeted Edinburgh victims who were in their nineties

TWO despicable thieves who tricked their way into the homes of a 91-year-old and a 92-year-old claiming they were testing water pressure have been jailed for a total of six years and four months.
The High Court in GlasgowThe High Court in Glasgow
The High Court in Glasgow

John MacDonald, 54, and Abel Diaz, 38, stole £2,665 worth of property from 92-year-old Elizabeth Stroud and £30 from 91-year-old Mary Jewitt after conning their way into their Edinburgh homes.

They also targeted 70-year-old Richard Tibbetts, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and is partially blind stealing £110 from him and a further £620 from two women aged 54 and 28.

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The offences were committed at various addresses in Edinburgh between June 20, 2019 and July 9, 2019.

At the High Court in Glasgow judge Lord Boyd jailed MacDonald for three years and four months and Diaz for three years.

Lord Boyd told the pair: “You gained access to these homes by pretending you were there to check the water supply.

“Two of your victims were over 90 and another was particularly vulnerable. You caused significant emotional distress.”

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He ordered MacDonald's sentence to begin at the end of one he is currently serving in England.

The court heard that the two paired up when MacDonald, who is from Essex, came to Scotland to visit relatives.

Both men had significant drug addiction and stole to feed their habit.

MacDonald and Diaz admitted charges of theft, housebreaking and reset.

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Prosecutor Stephen Borthwick told the court that the pair pretended to their victims that they needed to check their water pressure.

He said: “They claimed to work for the council or water board.

Once inside one of them would distract the occupant while their other rifled through their possessions and stole from them.

MacDonald has convictions dating back 40 years and has spent more than 20 years in jail. Diaz has one previous conviction for theft.

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When police searched the flat in Restalrig Road, Edinburgh where the pair were staying they found 20 watches and 80 pieces of jewellery worth approximately £2,000.

Defence counsel Gail Gianni , representing MacDonald, said: “He recognises these are despicable offences and he is ashamed.”

Louise Arrol, representing Diaz, said: “At the time he was taking crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin. He realises the effect these offences will have had on the victims.”

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