A CONVICTED conman has been banned from calling at the home of any stranger in Bristol.
Leo Larkin, who has a history of committing distraction burglaries on elderly victims, was due to face trial for burglary after trying to con a pensioner yet again.
The 36-year-old, of Wick Road, Pilning, instead pleaded guilty to fraud, which was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service at Bristol Crown Court yesterday.
Jailing him for 18 months, Judge Michael Roach told him: "You've committed this style of offence before.
"I accept nothing was taken on this occasion. But you have to appreciate that your behaviour has caused enormous distress to the householders.
"Bluntly, your behaviour is mean and you can't get away from that."
The judge imposed an indefinite anti-social behaviour order, banning Larkin from calling at any home in Bristol, other than those of his family or friends, until further notice.
After the hearing, acting Detective Sergeant Nick Tizzard, of Bristol's doorstep crime team, said: "This home was targeted and it was definitely a mean offence. How would he like it if it happened to him or his friends?"
Ian Halliday, prosecuting, said Larkin and an unknown accomplice called at octogenarian Barbara Millard's Bath Road home in January.
One of them told her she qualified for free loft insulation, as her "name had come up on a computer".
When Mrs Millard's son tackled the callers, demanding identification, they could not show him any.
Mr Halliday said: "The defendant gave the name of a loft insulation business. The first man walked off, but this defendant remained on the doorstep, arguing with Mr Millard, and was 'blustering'."
When Larkin left the scene and the men drove off, Mr Millard was able to recall their car registration number and was able to describe Larkin.
Police arrested Larkin two days later and he told them he had acted as peacemaker when his friend had got into an argument at the doorstep.
The court head Larkin had previous convictions for making false representations and burglary, including driving victims to banks to get cash for jobs he had never done.
In one case he offered to fix a roof tile for £250, before asking for £7,500 and leaving having demolished a chimney.
Nicolas Gerasimidis, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty and played a secondary role in the fraud.
He said father-to-be Larkin planned to get out of the UK with his family, and did not object to the Asbo.
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