A heartless burglar conned his way into the home of an 86-year-old woman in Mornington Crescent by pretending to be a plumber.

Police are appealing for information after a man turned up at the pensioner’s flat in Oakley Square at around 7pm on January 24.

The burglar claimed that the victim had a leak in her flat and that he was there to stop it, Scotland Yard said.

He asked the woman to turn off the radiators in the flat saying he was not allowed to touch the ‘controls’.

While the victim went to turn off the heaters, he stole her handbag and phone then left.

Her bank card was then used 12 times to withdraw £164.54 from her account.

The man is white, 5ft 10ins tall, well built, with black hair and a round face. He spoke with an Irish accent and was wearing a black puffa-style jacket and black trousers.

Det Con Mark Pinder, of the Central North CID, said: “During the incident the victim’s mobile phone was stolen. There were a significant number of sentimental pictures on the phone which cannot be recovered. This has caused the woman substantial anguish and upset.

“This was a despicable crime committed against a helpless elderly woman in her own home. It is vital that we identify and apprehend this suspect as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.