A Dover con artist tricked a retired clergyman out of nearly £2,500 with a sob story about being a hard-up wine merchant.

The fraudster collared 82-year-old Stephen Young on a London to Ashford train in March 2014.

In a vintage performance, Richard O’Connell, 54, claimed he was struggling to deliver wine and needed cash for a vehicle, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

But the kind-hearted clergyman was left with a feeling of sour grapes when the fraudster, of Napchester Road, Whitfield failed to repay him a penny!

Prosecutor Robert De Banzie said the Rev Young was on his way to visit his brother in a care home when he sat next to O’Connell.

“He talked to the clergyman about his marriage, about the fact he was homeless and was an unemployed wine merchant.

“He said that his legs were no good and asked the kindly Mr Young if he could help him financially, saying he needed money for a variety of things including a car, so he could make deliveries of the wine.”

The prosecutor said the two men met a couple of days later where O’Connell was given £850 in cash before making more phone calls asking for cash.

“In total, the good reverend duly transferred another £1600 from his bank account on the basis it would be repaid from the profits from the wine company. On one occasion he called Mr Young telling him that £1000 was about to be given to him...but nothing ever appeared and he never heard from him again, “ added Mr De Banzie.

The court heard how Mr Young’s relatives became suspicious and contacted the police who arrested him and he was jailed for 13 months after admitting the fraud.

Judge Heather Norton heard how at the same court seven years ago he had been jailed for two years for cheating a disabled Thanet man out of £23,500.

"A well planned and cunningly contrived enterprise executed with skill" - Judge Heather Norton

O’Connell, then 47, was said to have used the skills he had acquired as a salesman to persuade a 63 year old victim to hand over the money.

His victim had suffered strokes and paralysis and had limited mobility and communication. He believed the money was being used to start a kitchen business.

But the conman was bankrupt - and not a penny of the money was repaid and the judge told him that it had been a “ well planned and cunningly contrived enterprise executed with skill.”

Mr Recorder Popat said the kitchen business was a complete hoax and he had defrauded the victim of a substantial sum leaving him distressed and upset.