A taxi driver who tricked his way into a woman's home before stealing her handbag and bank card has been jailed for more than a year.

Asif Khan Mehrban, 34, of Cordwallis Road in Maidenhead, turned up at the 63-year-old woman's home on the evening of February 28 and told her he had come to collect her as he had done previously.

She told him she had not booked a taxi but he tricked his way into her home under the pretence that he wanted a glass of water.

Once he was inside, he closed the kitchen door and stole her handbag and bank card.

He then took a payment from the card using his taxi instant pay machine before going to Londis in Holyport to buy items.

He also made cash withdrawals at Tesco in Windsor.

The taxi driver was arrested the same day on suspicion of a distraction burglary and three counts of fraud by false representation and pleaded guilty at a hearing at Reading Crown Court on June 27.

He has been jailed for one year and eight months.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Steven Baggaley, of Local CID, based at Maidenhead police station, said: “Mehrban callously took advantage of this vulnerable woman in her own home, somewhere that should be a place of safety.

“He abused the trust that the victim had placed in him for his own ends.

“I hope this sentence proves a just reminder that Thames Valley Police will take every step to bring offenders to justice and protect the most vulnerable people in our communities.”