A fraudster who targeted elderly women, including one with dementia, to collect fake sponsorship money has been told to expect a prison term.

Dean Burtenshaw, 31, pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud when he appeared at King's Lynn magistrates' court yesterday.

The court heard that he visited three women's homes in Downham Market between July and September this year.

On each occasion he told the women, none of whom could remember him, that they had sponsored him for a charity event, which he had completed it, and he was collecting the money.

None of the women had in fact sponsored him and he had not completed any charity events.

The case was adjourned for reports until January 6, but district judge Nicholas Watson told Burtenshaw, who gave a care of address of Hall Farm Cottages in Marham: 'You can expect a prison sentence.'

Prosecuting, Alison Cotterill said that when Burtenshaw attended the homes, he tried to convince the women they had already sponsored him for various events, which he had now done, and he was collecting money.

She said: 'They hadn't sponsored him. He was using their vulnerability to persuade them that they had.

'The first lady could not remember him but handed over £5 in the belief it was going to Gt Ormond Street Hospital.

'The second suffers from early onset dementia. She had not sponsored him, but got £15 from her handbag, again believing it was going to Gt Ormond Street. She said what happened that day played on her mind.

'The third woman was more robust and told him she had not sponsored him. He apologised and left.'

George Sorrell, for Burtenshaw, said: 'The amount of money taken, £15, was quite small, but the impact on at least one victim was long-lasting and very unpleasant.'