east Renfrewshire’s MP has called for the deportation of a Polish national who was last week jailed for two years for a callous raid on a dementia sufferer.

Daniel Maka was locked up after a jury found him guilty of stealing gifts from his 83-year-old victim at a Barrhead care home on Boxing Day 2016.

Maka, who told social workers he had spent the best part of a decade behind bars in Poland for a series of robberies before moving to Scotland, is currently being held at Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre in near Strathaven, South Lanarkshire while the Home Office decides his fate but, at his sentencing hearing last week, a court was told he would be appealing against attempts to deport him.

East Renfrewshire MP Paul Masterton has now called for Home Secretary Amber Rudd to “vigorously pursue” the removal of Maka from the UK.

Mr Masterton said: “In the scheme of criminal acts, some may see this as too minor for a MP to raise with the Home Secretary but this will have had an undeniable effect on a dementia sufferer and brought fear and alarm to other residents.

“Our immigration system must protect our communities from those who do not wish to play by the rules and, sadly, Daniel Maka abused his position within our community.

“I am confident that the Home Secretary will pursue deportation action vigorously as we must always show that we stand resolute against the minority who prey upon the innocent.”

Maka targeted his elderly victim, who is now 85, at Millview Care Home, in Carlibar Road.

He swiped chocolates that she had been given as presents, as well as stealing clothes and two sets of dominoes.

Police were called and Maka was caught nearby – still clutching a box of luxury Swiss chocolates under his arm.

He then struggled with officers who arrested him, spitting on a female cop in the process.

Maka, of Balgray Crescent, Barrhead, went on trial over the claims at Paisley Sheriff Court last month.

He protested his innocence but a jury returned guilty verdicts on all four charges against him.

The charges alleged Maka behaved in a disorderly manner by shouting and swearing in Main Street, Barrhead; assaulting PC Angela Bell by spitting on her; resisting arrest by struggling violently with her and colleague PC David Crawford; and breaking into the care home and stealing from the pensioner.

Maka, who is currently being held at Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre near Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, because he is due to be deported from the UK, was remanded in custody after the jury delivered its verdict.

Sentence was adjourned for background reports to be prepared.

When Maka was brought back to the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday to be sentenced and defence solicitor Eamonn McGeehan said his client had – “to his credit” – volunteered to social workers preparing the report that he had spent “somewhere in the region of eight years in prison in Poland”.

Mr McGeehan also told the hearing that Maka, who has a six-month-old son, was being deported by Home Office officials due to the court case, but that he was appealing against the decision to return him to Poland.

He asked for leniency for Maka, saying he had been working until he was remanded in custody and was able to do unpaid work in the community if the sheriff felt a community payback order was a suitable punishment.

Defence solicitor Eamonn McGeehan asked for leniency for Maka, saying he was able to do unpaid work in the community as a punishment.

However, Sheriff Tom McCartney ruled that only a jail term was appropriate and sentenced Maka to a total of 24 months behind bars.