Frodsham pensioners scammed out of thousands of pounds

Aug 4 2011 by Rachel Flint, Chester Chronicle

A PROLIFIC fraudster has admitted targeting vulnerable Frodsham pensioners and tricking them out of thousands of pounds.

For more than six months Andrew Lovell, 32, of Coppice Green, Elton, door stepped the houses of elderly residents in Frodsham conning them into handing over their savings in return for work on their gardens and fences.

At Chester Magistrates Court yesterday (Wednesday), the court heard that over a 12-month period Lovell also persistently targeted a 75-year-old man at his home in Widnes, demanding almost £2,000 for work, which the pensioner handed over because he ‘felt intimidated’ and ‘wanted to be left alone’.

Yesterday, the father-of-four admitted three charges of fraud by false representation after scamming three pensioners in Cheshire out of a total of £4,100.

The court heard how in February Lovell persuaded a 63-year-old, of Erindale Crescent, Frodsham, to hand over her debit card and pin number, withdrawing £300 which he claimed was to buy panels to fix her fences.

Then on Friday, Lovell followed a 78-year-old from his Frodsham home, to the HSBC on Main Street, Frodsham, so that he could withdraw almost £2,000 to pay for cutting down a tree.

Amanda Roberts, prosecuting, said Lovell targeted the pensioner, knocking on his conservatory window and offering to chop down a tree in his front garden at a bargain price.

“The victim described Lovell as very talkative and persistent, he has described being pressed by the defendant into following him into the front garden to look at the tree,” she added.

“Lovell then pressured the victim for 10 minutes, he felt intimidated and vulnerable, so much so that he accepted the deal.”

Brian Cross, defending, said Lovell was ashamed of his actions and planned to pay back all of his victims.

“He is deeply embarrassed and ashamed by his own behaviour and is sorry for the pain he has caused to the people involved,” he added.

Lovell, who remains in custody, is due to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court at a later date.