A DRUG addict posing as a police officer, who tricked his way into a pensioner's home to grab cash to fund his daily habit, has been locked up.

James Wells admitted trying to con victim Ralph Leavis into handing over cash when he called by his Blackbird Leys home in the early hours of August 5.

Jailing the 45-year-old for one year, Deputy Circuit Judge Patrick Eccles QC condemned Wells for targeting the 'amenable' victim on his doorstep during the 'pretty despicable' crime.

Prosecutor Julian Lynch told Oxford Crown Court Mr Leavis, who is in his 80s, was asleep in his chair when he was awoken by his intercom buzzing at about 3.30am.

He said the defendant, of no fixed abode, pretended he was a police officer and requested access to the communal area of the accommodation block.

Wells introduced himself as Joe Billings, flashing fake identification when his victim asked him to prove who he was, the prosecutor said.

But Mr Leavis spotted the false ID when Wells was at his door, and asked the defendant to leave.

Mr Lynch said Wells then claimed his identification was different as he was working for both the police force and the council, telling his victim he was there to talk about elderly people being targeted by doorstep scams.

The prosecutor said Mr Leavis 'firmly' asked 'Wells to leave as he continued to assert he was an official, while searching his victim's home.

Mr Leavis managed to raise the alarm with officers before the defendant tried rummaging through his jacket in the hallway.

Defence barrister Jonathan Coode said Wells, who left the property empty-handed, was not deliberately targetting an elderly man.

He said the defendant's friend, who claimed to be Mr Leavis' former neighbour, had borrowed cash from him before and stayed in his first floor flat overnight.

Wells hoped to get cash to fund his £20 to £30 drug habit during the 'shortlived' incident where there was no violence, Mr Coode added.

The defendant, who appeared via video link from Bullingdon Prison, admitted burglary and was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge.