VICTIMS of a heroin addict who conned pensioners out of money to feed his drug habit called police after they saw his picture in the Gazette.

We reported in March how James Horrigan targeted people over 80 and used a variety of excuses to get them to part with their cash, promising to repay them.

The 38-year-old was jailed for 21 months earlier this year, after admitting 11 fraud offences and one charge of burglary.

Horrigan was back in court this week after three more elderly victims came forward having recognised the conman from a mugshot printed in the newspaper.

Kerry Lovegrove, prosecuting, told Worcester Magistrates Court how between September last year and January this year he went to the Malvern homes of Bryan Wall and Margaret Rodway and asked to borrow money to fix his car.

He initially took £20 from Mr Wall and left, but later returned and convinced him to go to a cash point to withdraw a further £30. Meanwhile, Horrigan was loaned £15 cash and five litres of diesel by Mrs Rodway.

He also flagged down Roger Beddow in Malvern between July and September last year, claiming his vehicle had broken down. Mr Beddow let him borrow £30 to “buy parts”, but was never repaid.

Horrigan, of St Kitt’s Close, Malvern, pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud by false representation.

Mark Sheward, defending, said his client committed the frauds to fund his heroin addiction.

He said that, while in prison, Horrigan had been using his time “proactively” and working to tackle his drug problem, consistently providing negative samples on the regular drug tests he must undergo.

Mr Sheward said Horrigan’s wife was also in court and had promised to give him one more chance to stay off drugs and out of trouble.

District Judge Nigel Cadbury sentenced Horrigan to eight weeks custody for each offence, to run concurrent to his existing custodial sentence.

As he was being led out of the dock, Horrigan said: “I regret my actions.”