A prolific pickpocket who preyed on bus passengers, including an 87-year-old, has been jailed for two years.

Richard Dolphy used the “coin-drop” method, dropping a coin to distract the victim before stealing from them.

The 56-year-old often targeted the elderly, some after they had visited the bank.

Dolphy, of Newlands Road, Croydon, was responsible for 13 similar crimes across London, stealing nearly £2,000 from elderly people.

He was filmed by a crime squad surveillance team who caught him red-handed on a bus in Wandsworth.

Appearing at Isleworth Crown Court on September 29, Dolphy was given a two year jail sentence and a 10 year anti-social behaviour order.

Chief Superintendent Sultan Taylor of the safer transport command said: “This was an excellent result which has seen a prolific pickpocket receive a robust judicial outcome.

Steve Burton Director of Transport for London’s community safety and enforcement policing directorate said: “We are pleased with the sentence that Dolphy has received. This should serve as a warning to anyone thinking of committing a crime on our network.

“TfL is committed to working with the police to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour on public transport and bringing offenders to justice.”