He pretended to be a caring neighbour... but launched a 'sickening attack' on elderly man in his own home

He played the part of a 'caring neighbour', offering a hand to an elderly man as he walked home. But, Leon Gunning was instead preparing to launch a 'sickening attack' on the 81-year-old pensioner once gaining entry to his home.

It wasn't the first time he had struck. The career criminal had previously pushed a 92-year-old woman to the floor and laughed at her as she begged him to stop stealing her jewellery at her home.

Gunning's offending dated back to the 1980s, previously in trouble for drug dealing, assault and robberies. On Wednesday (September 11), he was once again banged up - this time for more than 12 years.

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Minshull Street Crown Court heard on Wednesday how, in February, Gunning, now aged 50, started talking to an 81-year-old man in Levenshulme. Acting as a 'caring neighbour', he offered to walk him home and claimed he had recently moved to the area.

After arriving back at the elderly man's house, Gunning then forced his way inside before 'insisting the victim made him a cup of tea', Greater Manchester Police said.

He went upstairs, 'rummaged' around the victim's bedroom, before going back downstairs and ripping off his emergency bracelet, pinning him to the couch and restraining his arms so he couldn't move.

Gunning, now of Edward Street in Oldham, then proceeded to throw the 81-year-old to the ground and continued to raid the house, leaving with just £15 in cash. On his way out, he took the victim's keys and bracelet, leaving them in the porch while the victim lay helpless on the floor.

He was found guilty of assault and robbery and jailed for 12 years and two months.