A PICKPOCKET who preyed on elderly train passengers is behind bars today.

Paul Caren, 37, stole purses from passengers on the 12.15pm Lime Street to London service to pay for his drug addiction.

At Liverpool crown court yesterday, Caren, of Walton Breck Road, Anfield, was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Michael Stephenson, prosecuting, told the court how Caren had targeted two women in their 70s.

On June 1 a 75-year-old was getting on the Liverpool to London train laden with a suitcase and bags.

She could not find anywhere to stash her suitcase but accepted Caren’s offer of help to move the bag to another carriage with more space.

When she returned to her seat, her handbag was open and her purse was gone.

Five days later, the court heard, a 76-year- old woman caught the 12.15 to London and was jostled as she tried to board.

When she sat down and was well on her way down south, She too found her bag had been opened and her purse, containing cash and cards, had been taken.

Before the train had even left the station, Mr Stephenson said, Caren had used one of the victim’s cards to withdraw £190 from a cash machine.

Within the next hour, Caren used the card to take out another £250 cash and buy a £150 mobile phone from Argos.

On June 12, Caren climbed on to the train as it waited to leave and stole £20 from a float bag in the buffet car, escaping before the train pulled out.

When he was arrested, Caren was found with heroin, some Class B and Class C drugs on him.

The court heard his record stretched back to when he was 15 and Caren has been in and out of prison and young offenders institutes.

He pleaded guilty to six offences of dishonesty and three of possession of drugs.

Judge John Roberts said: “The targeting of elderly victims to pay for your drug habit can only be described as despicable.”