A "disgusting" fraudster who conned cash from an elderly widow on Christmas Eve has walked free from court.
Ryan Stoker went to the 73-year-old victim's home in Sunderland on December 23 2020 and borrowed £40 then returned on December 24 to get £40 more. Newcastle Crown Court heard the pensioner had agreed to help because the 32-year-old claimed his aunt lived over the road and that all of the cash machines in the area were broken.
She had been reluctant to hand over any money during his second visit but Stoker's behaviour made her "scared" and she gave him the cash so he would leave. The court heard the formerly active pensioner, who would make craft items to sell for charity, was so affected by what Stoker did she moved out of her home and into sheltered accommodation and has since suffered a stroke.
