JUST four months after war veteran Geoffrey Bennett had his wallet stolen containing £120 and some irreplaceable pictures of his wife, he was dead.

Mr Bennett, aged 84, had been duped by drug addict Steven Smith into letting him into his Malvern home last June - and his family are convinced this incident caused his premature death.

Among the items Smith stole were photos of Mr Bennett's beloved wife Doreen, who died 14 years ago.

Today, as Steven Smith began a 18-month jail sentence, his family speak out about the trauma disabled Mr Bennett, of Meadow Road, suffered as a result of such a callous act.

Daughter Deborah Pullen said she had warned him never to let anyone into his house - and felt sad someone had taken advantage of someone so vulnerable.

"I was always on at him not to let anybody in the house. I knew how fragile he was. He walked with a frame and couldn't walk without it.

But he was so strong-minded and never believed anybody would ever get into his house," added the 46-year-old.

"He was always so convinced he was fine, that he was still a young RAF squaddie able to handle himself. He was still young in his own mind. But after it happened he seemed to give up from then on."

A proud and independent man, Mr Bennett had served with the 609 Squadron in the RAF, travelling to North Africa, India and France. He also worked for Worcester firm Kays.

Pictures in his stolen wallet were irreplaceable - taken in the 1940s of him and Doreen when they got engaged.

Before he died, Mrs Pullen's family home was being converted so he could be cared for by herself, her husband and two children, Natasha, aged 11 and Lexie, nine.

After the robbery, Mr Bennett's health deteriorated and Mrs Pullen is convinced it was due to this.

"The fight had gone out of him. We all really noticed a difference in him. Psychologically it affected him very badly," she added.

Now the family want to make sure other elderly people learn from the tragedy.

"Just do not let them in and keep a chain on the door," she warned. "I was so relieved when we found out he had been caught. People like him who do such a low crime need some sort of deterrent. They are preying on the vulnerable. It is a horrendous crime."

Mr Bennett leaves three children, six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.