A vulnerable pensioner from Northampton was conned out of £18,000 by a man who treated him as “easy meat”, a court has heard.
Jimmy Cash stole the money from the 71-year-old, who lives in the Whitehills area of the town, over a four month period in 2009.
St Albans Crown Court heard Cash falsely claimed to the victim that he had carried out decorating and repair work to his house and would then drive him to the bank and make him withdraw money and hand it over.
Gareth Underhill, prosecuting, said the victim, who lived on his own, was particularly vulnerable and trusting and had thought he was friends with the defendant and his mother.
Mr Underhill said Cash had carried out a “confidence fraud” on the victim who was even persuaded to sign over his house to Cash’s mother.
Cash, of Hemley Hill Caravan Site, Upper Icknield Way, Saunderton, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, pleaded guilty to fraud.
Judge John Plumstead told Cash he had “groomed” a lonely and vulnerable man who he had regarded as “easy meat.”
The judge said it had been a callous and cold blooded form of offending because for a long period he had pretended to be the victim’s friend, all the time knowing that in reality he wanted to plunder any savings he had for his old age.
Judge Plumstead said it was disgraceful behaviour and likened Cash to a leech.
Cash was jailed for 27 months and told that money seized in his bank account will be used to repay his victim. The victim’s house has been signed back to him.