A bogus window cleaner has been jailed after conning Hatfield residents out of cash and a laptop.

Ben Robertson, 32, knocked on doors along Old French Horn Lane claiming he was owed £20 for work that was carried out earlier.

At one house a resident believed him and handed over the money, St Albans Crown Court heard on Thursday, February 18.

Three days later he tried the same trick in St Albans Road West and was let into the house, where he stole a £400 iPad.

Robertson, of Jubilee Court, Hatfield, admitted burglary and fraud. He had 15 convictions for 27 previous offences.

Puneet Rai, mitigating, said he had spent four months in custody where he had been addressing his drink problem.

Recorder Amanda Tipples QC jailed him for 12 months saying the offences were aggravated by the number of victims.