Fraudster jailed after stealing nearly ?20k from woman
A Kidderminster man who stole nearly £20,000 from a vulnerable woman in her 90s has been jailed for his "appalling" actions. Police say Andrew Deakin, of Biset Avenue[1], took regular cash withdrawals from his elderly victim’s bank account of between £100 and £400 at a time between June 2020 and October 2022.
The 50-year-old's fraudulent actions were carried out without permission with a total loss of around £19,823, West Mercia Police[2] said. The force continued that police investigating the case identified the locations of withdrawals where Deakin was caught on CCTV.
He was sentenced to 18 months at Worcester Crown Court[3] on Tuesday, September 26 after pleading guilty to theft and fraud by false representation at an earlier hearing. He was also ordered to pay a £187 victim surcharge. A proceeds of crime hearing is set to follow.
PC Dan Windsor of North Worcestershire[5] Police, who investigated the case, said: “We are pleased the court has recognised the gravity of this appalling crime on a vulnerable elderly lady following our lengthy investigation. Deakin showed himself to be the worst of us, preying on the very type of person the rest were trying to protect during the worrying times of the pandemic.
“He knowingly took advantage of a vulnerable victim who had quite innocently placed her trust in him at a time when she would have already been feeling afraid of the world outside.”
References
- ^ Biset Avenue (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ West Mercia Police (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Worcester Crown Court (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham man receives five year animal ban after keeping dogs in shocking conditions (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Worcestershire (www.birminghammail.co.uk)