A FRAUDSTER who preyed on the elderly was dismissed as an ‘old-fashioned conman’ as he was jailed for 30 months.
Married father-of-four Andrew Donny Llewelyn Lovell, 32, of Coppice Green, Elton, doorstepped pensioners, tricking them out of thousands of pounds of savings.
Lovell had already admitted three charges of fraud by false representation after scamming three pensioners out of £4,100.
At Chester Crown Court on Monday the court heard how, from April last year to February this year, Lovell targeted 75-year-old Ronald Smith in Widnes, demanding £1,950 for tree surgery, which the pensioner handed over because he ‘felt intimidated’.
Mr Smith was driven by Lovell to his bank where he withdrew £850 and handed it over.
Lovell returned regularly, demanding more money. Mr Smith gave him £600 on September 20 last year and £500 on November 4.
A surveyor put the true cost of the work at £335 maximum.
Mr Smith told police: “I’m suffering from extreme anxiety. I am stressed the offender will return to my home.”
Katherine Marshall, 63, was Lovell’s next victim.
He turned up at her home on Erindale Crescent, Frodsham in February and persuaded her to hand over her debit card and pin number, withdrawing £300 which he claimed was to buy panels to fix her fences.
Ms Marshall – who is disabled and lives alone – described her anger at being taken in by ‘such an obvious fraud’.
Lovell was later spotted driving on Hob Lane, Dunham-on-the-Hill despite being disqualified from driving after a drink driving conviction last year. He was arrested but, after being bailed, targeted another victim.
On July 26, Lovell convinced Kenneth Bett, 78, who lives with his elderly wife in Beech Avenue, Frodsham, to part with £1,850 after taking 20 minutes to cut down a tree.
Mr Bett took out £2,000, followed by Lovell.
Three days later, Lovell was arrested – caught on a secret camera installed in Mr Bett’s home.
Myles Wilson, defending, told Chester Crown Court that Lovell had given police the money he took from this victims, adding he had struggled with a drink problem and had fleeced pensioners in order to fund it.
Judge Roger Dutton said: “These are despicable offences. You’re an old-fashioned con man.”
An order was made to pay the £4,100 in restitution to his victims.
