A THIEF who preyed on the elderly returned to the home of one 77-year-old to steal from her again.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard Scott McCreadie took advantage of another pensioner's kindness when she thought he was someone else and invited him into her home.

While the 86-year-old was in the kitchen of her Linwood home, he stole her purse and then drank the tea.

The pensioner had heard her front door opening and was confused enough to believe she recognised McCreadie as a youth she knew when she found him standing in her hallway.

Fiscal depute David Glancey told the court: "Having formed the impression that she knew him, she invited him in for a cup of tea.

"He accepted and sat down in the living room as she went to the kitchen to put the kettle on."

When he left the woman found her purse was missing.

Police who were called took the cup he had been handling for DNA sampling.

The court heard a few days later McCreadie got into the flat of a 77-year-old in Johnstone by releasing a security button on a window which had been slightly open.

The woman heard a noise and found McCreadie in her kitchen. He grabbed a purse containing £89. When his victim challenged him, he swore at her and ran from the property. Police retrieved fingerprints from the window.

McCreadie returned to the same house two weeks later and climbed in again through a partially-open window.

A motorist sitting outside in the street called the police after she saw a pair of legs dangling from the window as McCreadie dropped to the ground and walked away.

The pensioner had been at home but was unaware of the intruder and only found out about it when police arrived to investigate.

Once again, fingerprints were recovered and matched those taken earlier.

McCreadie, 20, of Arniston Way, Gallowhill, Paisley, pleaded guilty on indictment and admitted involvement in several other matters, including being found in a garden with intent to steal; and theft of jewellery worth £490.

On hearing that McCreadie had other matters outstanding to be dealt with later this week, Sheriff Susan Sinclair remanded him in custody for everything to be dealt with together.