A 15-YEAR-OLD drug addict conned his way into the house of a 92-year-old woman to steal cash.

The boy, who can not be named for legal reasons, told the pensioner, who has since died, he wanted to use the toilet but searched her bedroom instead.

On two previous occasions the persistant young offender, who lives in Westhoughton, had broken into the same home for the elderly and stolen the purses of care workers.

A court was told that despite his age the boy admitted stealing cash to pay for his drug habit.

The teenager appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence. He admitted three counts of burglary.

A judge sentenced him to an 18-months Detention and Training Order and warned him he could have been sent into custody for much longer under special powers. Judge Derwin Hope said: "You have got a very bad record and quite simply you won't stop offending."

The court heard that in September of last year the boy broke into the Winifred Kettle Residential Home for the Elderly.

He went to the staff room and stole two handbags and purses from two care assistants who worked at the home.

On October 7 he broke into the home again and stole a handbag containing a purse and a coat belonging to another worker.

Just four days later, he conned his way into the home of 92-year-old Annie Forshaw.