A fraudster has been jailed after admitting his actions led to the loss of an elderly man’s savings.
In December 2018 Charlie Anderson gained the trust of a man who was staying in hospital who then asked him to withdraw a week’s worth of pension money on his behalf.
Anderson agreed but never returned the bankcard or pension card and an investigation by Kent Police found that he instead provided them to other people, leading to the victim losing over £3,350, which was spent on shopping in Canterbury, fast food and car insurance.
After befriending the victim in December 2018, Anderson, of no fixed address, was invited to stay with him in Deal after claiming he would be homeless for Christmas. When the victim, who was in his 70s, was taken to hospital again later that month, Anderson visited him and was asked if he could take out some money on the victim’s behalf.
The cards were never returned to the victim. Within days a fraudulent car insurance policy had been taken out using the victim’s bank card. The cards were then used to withdraw £600 from multiple post offices in Canterbury. There was also an attempt to buy £468 worth of goods from Sports Direct and food from a McDonalds Drive-Through with the bank card.
- 14-year-old boy missing from Chatham for a week could be in London
- Brutal attack in Ashford leaves man with severe injuries and broken bones – Suspect arrested!
- 15-month sentence for Maidstone man who used repeated violence and strangled woman
- Tonbridge drug dealer’s arsenal seized in dramatic raid
- Discover Folkestone with a journey through time in photos
Further transactions were registered at Argos and Morrisons and additional withdrawals were made from cash machines in the city throughout the rest of the month.
In total £3,358 was withdrawn or spent from the victim’s accounts.
At Canterbury Crown Court on Friday 15 January, 24-year-old Anderson admitted conspiracy to commit fraud and received a 12-month prison sentence, which will begin after he completes the custodial sentence he is currently serving.
Financial Investigator Stewart Ross-Cumming, who led the investigation, said: ‘This was a distressing betrayal of trust from Anderson, against an elderly man who needed a friend during a difficult time.
‘Anderson passed up the opportunity to do something good, and instead enabled the use of the victim’s savings and pension by others.
‘I hope he uses his further time in prison to realise just how appalling his actions were.’