A man stole £7,000 from a vulnerable victim in a two-year con, a court has heard.
Frank Thompson, 61, of Strand Road, Bootle, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to one count of fraud by false representation. Alaric Walmsley, prosecuting, detailed that between April 1, 2019, and August 11, 2021, Thompson conned a vulnerable victim out of £7,000.
In September 2020, a theft was reported to police by Rosemary Collins, the manager of a residential property where the victim - who the ECHO has chosen not to name - and Thompson lived. Ms Collins told police she had concerns regarding the possible financial abuse of a resident by another resident.
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Mr Walmsley detailed that the victim has learning difficulties and is registered as disabled, but lives somewhat independently, and only uses his money for bills. In January 2020, it was established that the victim had £10,000 in his account, but suspicions were raised when he said later in the year that he received “another scam letter from Halifax bank”.
Ms Collins asked to see the letter, but Thompson, who was present, said he had “dealt with it” and thrown it in the bin. Later, when alone with the victim, the manager asked to see the letter again, which stated that the victim had insufficient funds to pay a direct debit.
She determined that the letter was real so tried to arrange an official meeting with the victim on three separate occasions, but was unable to as Thompson had taken him out for coffee, or he was not home. At a later date, the defendant approached Ms Collins and indicated that the victim should be present for a meeting, before admitting to “borrowing” £1,000 from him.
The manager pushed further and asked him to “be honest”, and he then admitted “it was probably more like £7,000”. Following this, Thompson told the victim he would repay the money, but only if he signed a letter stating the money given was a loan, which he refused to do.
The court heard that Thompson did give a small amount back to the victim, dropping small amounts to his flat on a couple of occasions. In December 2020, the victim was spoken to by police but could not remember any exact amounts.
Mr Walmsley detailed that Thompson had told the victim to cancel the interview as it was voluntary, but he did not. In July 2021, the Halifax bank contacted police to say that the victim had visited a bank to try and withdraw £200 after making two withdrawals amounting to £1000 the two days prior.
The victim visited the Bootle branch to withdraw £400, then to a Liverpool city centre branch the following day, withdrawing £600. Mr Walmsley highlighted that Ms Collins was on leave during this week.
The victim initially said he needed the money to go on holiday, but later told police he gave the money to the defendant who had said his mother was unwell. However CCTV showed Thompson going to the William Hill betting shop after receiving the money.
The defendant was arrested and interviewed, and said he was not aware of the victim's learning disabilities but that he had started paying some of the money back. When asked if he was a gambling addict, he answered no comment.
A victim impact statement was written by Ms Collins on behalf of the victim, and highlighted the severe affects the fraud had on him. She said it left the victim “devastated”, and said he has now developed a tremor in his arm and has had “many sleepless nights”.
It read: “He is depressed, angry and feels like he has been preyed upon and is a victim”. Thompson has seven previous offences, including for theft in 1979, and his most recent offence was for a public order offence in 2015.
Charlotte Kenny, defending, said: “His relationship with the victim was originally born out of friendship, this is not a case of him being targeted for his vulnerability. “They were in the same accommodation and they became friendly with one another, they would go for coffees and enjoyed each other's company.
“He is not a man without conscience, he reflects upon what he has done and he feels sorry for it.” Ms Kenny told the court Thompson has severe physical and mental health issues, and recently lost his mother which triggered his gambling addiction.
She said: “When his mother was ill, he lost control, he got out of hand, he was drinking excessively. “The defendant was spending the money gambling, it was an act of self destruction.
“The defendant is very sorry for the impact upon the victim.” In sentencing Judge Stuart Driver KC said: “You were manipulative and took steps to prevent your victim reporting this to the police.
“I am suspicious that the money given back to the victim is part of the manipulation, of you trying to buy him off, but I accept that forms part of your mitigation. “This was a consistent, persistent and cruel offence against a vulnerable man who thought that you were his friend.”
Thompson was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment and a restraining order barring him from contacting the victim was implemented for ten years.
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