A PENSIONER who fell victim to a bogus door-to-door salesman has criticised the two-year prison sentence given to the thief, saying it is not long enough.

Aylesbury Crown Court heard on Friday how Sean Quinn conned his way into the home of the 86-year-old woman, and snatched her purse, containing £170, and a diary.

The woman, who lived alone in a ground floor flat in Wycombe Marsh, High Wycombe, was followed into her home by the salesman, after agreeing to buy some dusters.

Speaking after the case, the pensioner, who is now aged 87 and asked not to be named, said: "I was upset when it happened. I lost £170 and didn't get it back.The sentence is not long enough."

Quinn admitted burglary and stealing the purse and diary on March 16 last year, and had two other thefts and a charge of conspiracy to steal taken into consideration.

Judge Terence Maher jailed Quinn for two years, saying he had committed a 'very mean and unpleasant offence'.

Barnaby Evans, prosecuting, told the court how the woman agreed to buy some dusters and went to get her purse, leaving the two men at the door.

Mr Evans said Quinn followed the lady into the house and asked for a piece of paper to write a receipt.

The pensioner gave him an envelope and as he went to write on it, Quinn then suddenly lunged forward, threw a couple of pound coins at his victim and snatched her purse.

He surrendered to police at Nottingham on July 17 last year, and said he was a travelling salesman but had never been to Wycombe Marsh.

Quinn, of Hayes Road, Keyworth, Nottingham, was jailed for 18 months for burglary and six months consecutive for failing to surrender to bail on June 25 last year.