A THIEF targeted a woman after he conned his way into her home.
Ian Stanley-Gonsalves, 37, saw the woman's advert for a DVD player for sale for £10 and called her, pretending he wanted to buy it.
However, once inside her home, he stole her handbag containing £160 and her passport.
Prosecutor Jharna Jobes said: "He arrived at her house at 4pm and was asked inside. He handed over £10 and asked her if he could have a carrier bag.
"She left him in the living room and went to get one and when she returned the defendant placed the item in it.
"She thought he was acting slightly strange at the time. She didn't appreciate what had happened but later realised her handbag had disappeared."
Hull Crown Court heard Stanley-Gonsalves called the woman the next day, saying he would return her money if she did not call police, but the woman had already raised the alarm.
Stanley-Gonsalves pleaded guilty to stealing from the house in west Hull on September 4 last year.
He has also admitted stealing fish food from a city centre pet shop on October 4.
Stanley-Gonsalves, who has 133 previous convictions, was previously jailed in 2003 for eight years and 254 days for robbery.
His barrister Richard Thompson told Hull Crown Court his client's father had died and it had led to him relapsing into drug use.
Mr Thompson said: "He would be willing to pay compensation. It shows the remorse he feels.
"Obviously, she has difficulties with this offence as it occurred in her own home."
Stanley-Gonsalves has been given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, a 12-month supervision order and a six-month drug rehabilitation order.
He has also been ordered to pay £200 compensation to the woman.
Recorder Margia Mostafa said: "The woman had advertised to sell her belongings to raise money because she didn't have enough money."
