Man used fake gun to rob £10,000 from Wigan pensioner's home

Jamie Porter, 39, pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an imitation firearm at the time of committing an offence during a hearing at Bolton Crown Court.

A judge heard that Porter forced his way into the Winstanley home of a 73-year-old man who lives alone. On Saturday, November 25 at around 8.20am, Porter knocked on the door of the pensioner’s home on Cadogan Drive.

Judge Timothy Stead, who presided over Porter’s plea appearance, heard that he engaged the victim in conversation for about 15 minutes before forcing his way into the house by threatening him with a gun.

The victim handed over £1,000 in cash when initially asked but Porter demanded more and began ransacking the house. He took a holdall belonging to the victim and emptied in three jars of change along with Gold sovereign coins.

He also took a man’s nine carat gold signet ring, two ladies’ dress rings and three watches.

During the looting Porter also took tobacco and cigarettes, a mobile phone and house phone.

He then gathered the bags up and walked away from the house. It is estimated that Porter took around £1,650 in cash from his victim as well as around £7,000 in jewellery.

Together with the tobacco and phones, he robbed the pensioner of around £10,000 worth of belongings.

On the day of the incident, armed police officers filled the streets in the area and remained there for some time.

Fortunately the victim received no injuries.

Porter, of Hannan Road, Liverpool, was apprehended by police who reviewed CCTV footage from the device installed in the victim’s house.

Video showed the defendant committing the offence and he also left fingerprints on the empty jars.

Porter will be sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on March 5.