Fraudster jailed for trying to con elderly woman out of thousands of pounds

A fraudster who attempted to con money from an elderly lady by posing as a Welsh Government scambuster has been jailed for two years.

Patrick Dean Cassidy, aged 27, who pleaded not guilty to fraud by false representation, claimed he could help Anne Jackson from Llanishen, Cardiff get back £9,000 in compensation from a botched job on her garage.

Newport Crown Court heard Cassidy, who gave his address as Greenway, Middlesex, targeted the 84-year-old woman after she had already fallen victim to rogue traders.

He told her he could claim back the £9,000 she lost if she gave him half that amount up-front.

But a jury yesterday did not believe the account of Cassidy, who claimed he told Ms Jackson to call Trading Standards and not the other way around.

Ms Jackson told the court she was the one who stated she would call Trading Standards, and that’s when the defendant left the property.

Sentencing him to two years imprisonment, Judge John Curran said there was “clear evidence of a very serious offence of fraud, deliberately targeting a lady in her eighties in order to obtain thousands of pounds from her”.

He added: “It’s quite clear to me from all the evidence that this must’ve been a planned offence. She has suffered twice at the hands of people like you, losing a great deal of money.

“You have previous convictions for swindling another very elderly gentleman, who is now 93, and his deceased wife. And you lied about that to the jury saying  you only pleaded guilty to save your father from prosecution.

“You are somebody making a business out of targeting the elderly.”

Judge Curran said a hefty sentence for crimes of this type must send a message to others who behave in this “despicable” way. He also commended “astute” victim Ms Jackson for her evidence.

A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said after the verdict: “South Wales Police takes a robust approach to distraction burglary. Preying on the elderly is beneath contempt.

“Such crimes are fully investigated and we would urge people to be good neighbours and watch out for vulnerable members of their community.”