Thief battered by plucky Scots pensioner who rained blows on him as he tried to flee her home
serial bogus caller who preys on the elderly got more than he bargained for - and found himself being attacked by the pensioner he was trying to rob. "Despicable" Denis Smyth entered the home of the 88-year-old and raided her cupboards, netting himself cash and cards.But the brave OAP, who uses a walking aid, didn't let him leave without a fight, and rained blows on his head as he tried to flee.A court heard her bravery helped to snare the crook as police officers were able to identify Smyth from DNA they'd found on her hands after the incident.And Smyth, who has been jailed 24 times, and has been convicted at nine different courts across Scotland, is now facing another lengthy jail term after holding his hands up to the crime.