OUR stories tonight about the teenager who daubed himself with fake blood to con a kind Bolton pensioner and the thieves who burgled an 85-year-old woman three times on consecutive nights make sickening reading.

These are not opportunist criminals but cold, calculating evildoers who are no respecters of age or frailty.

They are young people, without consciences, who are prepared to prey on elderly women without thought for the consequences.

The woman who was burgled while she slept is too frightened to go to bed at night and is so terrified about the whole incident she is barely able to speak to the police.

We urge anyone with any information about the incidents to contact the Crimestoppers. The police need as much help as possible to bring these wicked youths to justice.

And if the youths appear before the courts we trust that those dealing with their cases will ensure that adequate punishment is meted out to them.

These young tearaways did not have an ounce of compassion for the old people. They will not merit any sympathy from the courts.

The youths targeted these elderly women in a heartless way that most of us find impossible to comprehend. Their offences are unforgivable.

Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555111.

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