A cruel fraudster targeted a 97-year-old widower and a naïve pensioner and took thousands from them for carrying out shoddy work.
Dodgy workman, John Reid took over £13,000 from the two men between 2017 and 2021 and even asked for a loan from the most elderly victim and tried to usher him to a bank in order to withdraw money. The 43-year-old was branded "persistent, callous and despicable" by a judge and was jailed for over three years.
Reid, of Jubilee Crescent, Sherburn Hill, County Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Friday via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for six counts of fraud. He was convicted of the offences after a trial.
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The court heard that Reid carried out sub-standard work on the Chester-le-Street home of a 97-year-old widower at a cost of over £1,800 and due to his old age, did not realise what a "defective" job Reid had carried out. But after gaining his trust, Reid then brazenly convinced the elderly man to loan him money in 2020, and then asked for more a year later.
At one point, Reid even attempted to take the man to the bank to squeeze more money out of him, but his plans were scuppered by the man's helpful neighbours who were looking out for him and prevented it.
Recorder Thomas Moran said: "It was not a loan, you had no intention of paying him back. He was extremely old and that's no doubt why you targeted him. You had tricked him by saying you had gone to his home to pay him back, but you were trying to take him to a bank so he could give you more money. The victim had caring and considerate neighbours and they were concerned about what they could hear and stopped it before you could get him to the bank."
The court heard that the 97-year-old victim felt "under pressure" to get repair works done to his home and sadly passed away only a day before he was due to attend court to give evidence at Reid's trial.
Reid's second victim was from Stanley, and was a pensioner in his 60s who was described as "naïve in nature" and "soft natured" with a modest £30,000 pension. The fraudster had "frightened" the victim into believing he needed urgent work carried out on his home, which he needed to pay for, despite being a tenant at the property, the court heard.
Prosecutor Anthony Pettengell said that the victim, who was on benefits, withdrew a large chunk of his pension for Reid and had since had to resort to going back to working in a pub to earn money. Reid had also convinced him to hand over around £2,000 and promised he would repay back £3,000 - which he never did. He also took the man to a bank in order to withdraw his money and gave him a receipt so that staff wouldn't become suspicious.
The court was told Reid was on a community order at the time of some of the offences for carrying out similar fraudulent activity. The total amount he got from the two victims amounted to £13,180, Mr Pettengell added.
Jennifer Coxon, defending, said due to Reid going to trial, there was little she could say, but mentioned he is in ill-health and lives at home with his mother, who he is also a carer for following the death of his dad. She said that he has never lived an "extravagant lifestyle".
Recorder Moran branded Reid "persistent, callous, and despicable" and jailed him for three-and-a-half years.
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